Pottuvil massacre survivor alive, conflicting reports

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 September 2006, 11:26 GMT]
Amparai hospital sources Tuesday noon said the only survivor of the Pottuvil massacre, M. Meeramohideen, 55, survived after being admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from Tuesday morning 2:00 a.m. till Tuesday noon. Local news reports broadcast earlier cited Police sources claiming that the victim did not survive. The news of the survival of the victim, was released after the meeting between the Police, STF officials and the Muslim protestors took place in Pottuvil.

The wounded victim was blocked from being admitted to Kalmunai Ashraf Memorial Hospital and sent to Amparai hospital from Karaithivu checkpost, medical sources confirmed.

Mr. Meeramohideen is recovering, Amparai hospital sources said.

Meanwhile, three Sri Lankan government ministers and Muslim parliamentarians visited Pottuvil Tuesday and assured the protestors that they would discuss the demand of replacing the entire counter-insurgency Special Task Force (STF) unit located in Sasthiraveli near the massacre site.

The protestors have told the Ministers and the Parliamentarians that the shut down hartal would continue in Pottuvil till the controversial STF issue is resolved.

In the meantime, fear psychosis prevailed in Sinhala villages Tuesday evening as the Special Task Force (STF) troopers urged the villagers to be prepared to face reprisal attacks from Muslim villages.