2ND LEAD (Adds details)

Claymore attack in Jaffna islet, 2 SLN troopers wounded

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 May 2006, 07:59 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) troopers were seriously wounded in a Claymore attack in the Jaffna Islet of Velanai Wednesday at 9:10 a.m., Sri Lankan military sources said. SLN conducted a large scale cordon and search operation between 9.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Velani Vangalavadi area where the explosion took place, and have arrested an elderly civilian, according to sources.

The SLN troopers were on foot patrol on Rasiah road in Velanai when the explosion took place.

The sailors were rushed to Palaly Military Hospital.

Sri Lanka Navy troopers took all local residents to the Ilanthaivanam Pillaiyar temple and paraded them in front of a hooded-paramilitary. S. Balachandran, 62, a civilian nominated by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for Kayts local council position, was identified by the hooded-paramilitary and was taken by the SLN for interrogation, Velanai residents said.