Four killed in communal violence

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 October 2000, 04:57 GMT]
Communal violence continued late Sunday in the hill town of Talawakele despite enforcement of curfew in several areas in the Nuwara Eliya district, Mr.Chandrasekaran, MP, said.

The MP said four Tamil youths were killed and several others were wounded when police opened fire earlier today at a rally organised by his party to mourn victims of last week massacre at a detention centre. He said troubles broke following altercation between the mob and some of the picketers.

Chandrasekaran, who is also the leader of the Upcountry People's Front, said despite the presence of Sri Lanka Army soldiers and armed police in the town the Sinhalese thugs went on a rampage late Sunday evening.

He blamed the security forces for not taking any actions to stop the thugs and added tension was prevailing in the area.

Meanwhile, two more detainees who were seriously wounded in the attack on Bindunuwewa detention centre have succumbed to their injuries bringing the death toll to thirty-one.

Thirteen of the victims have been identified and their bodies were transported to their native places in the north-east province on Friday.

One of the victims from Trincomalee was identified as Pushparaja Kandeepan, 17. The Police arrested the youth when he was staying with his parents at Veeranagar, Trincomalee. His native place is Valvettithurai in Jaffna peninsula. His funeral took place today.

The body of the other Tamil youth, Punniyamoorthy Mathialagan of Verugal Muhathuwaram in Muttur was handed over to their relatives. But details about his arrest were not available.