Soldiers-Tamil youths clash in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 April 2002, 21:22 GMT]
A clash between Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and Tamil youths in Trincomalee town Sunday evening left three soldiers and a police constable in hospital and four youths under arrest. One of the arrested Tamil youths was later admitted to Trincomalee base hospital, with injuries sustained after a severe assault whilst in police custody according to sources.

Jaffna district TNA parliamentarian N.Raviraj (right) in the protest demonstration (Photo: TamilNet)

Some Tamil groups in Trincomalee organised a demonstration Sunday afternoon, condemning the stand taken by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms Jayalalitha in demanding the Indian Union government arrest LTTE leader Mr V.Pirapaharan. The protest demonstration commenced from Madathady junction, with hundreds of men and women taking part.

At one stage, when the demonstration was in progress through Thirugnanasampanthar Street, some Tamil youths noticed three people taking down the numbers of three wheelers, which took part in the procession. The three were members of the SLA intelligence unit according to sources in the town.

An altercation had then ensued between the parties concerned, resulting in the arrest of four Tamil youths by the police. The police later said that two soldiers and a constable had been admitted to the navy hospital with injuries.

Mr.N.Raviraj, Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian and Mr.M.A.M.Maharoof, Trincomalee district United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian rushed to the police station to get the arrested youths released, but failed in their attempt. The police had told them that they would produce the Tamil youths in courts on Monday, sources said.

Meanwhile the anti-Jayalalitha demonstration reached the venue at Trincomalee Dutch Bay beach around 6 p.m. Large number of people attended the protest rally, over which Mr.V.Vikneswaran presided. Parliamentarians M.A.M.Maharoof and N.Raviraj spoke at protest rally.

(Photo:TamilNet)