Police rampage in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Anarchy reigned at Akkaraipattu town last evening around 6.30 p.m., as policemen, incensed at the killing of two of their number, fired indiscriminately in the market place killing two people, burning Tamil shops and causing mayhem in the town, said sources in Akkaraipattu.

The incident came after a private bus, carrying ten policemen on its way from Sagamam to Akkaraipattu was ambushed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said sources.

The attackers flung a hand grenade killing two policemen travelling on the bus foot board and injured one. Soon afterwards police opened fire in the marketplace crowded with evening shoppers. Among the two killed was a cobbler in the market.

Six motorbikes and twenty-five bicycles were burnt and the Akkaraipattu Pradeshiya Sabha building was damaged in Police shelling .

This incident was followed today by the police beating up Tamils who were shopping at the market, said sources.