Police checkpoint attacked

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 1999, 09:25 GMT]
Two policemen were killed and another wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked the Chenkaladi check point, on the Batticaloa-Trincomalee trunk road, 12 km. northwest of Batticaloa, this morning around 8.30 a.m. police sources said.

The confrontation lasted about 30 minutes, said the sources.

Sri Lanka Army and police personnel rushed to the area and retaliated with small arms fire and mortars, they said.

Residents said 7 civilians in the surrounding areas, including three students of the Chenkaladi Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam (school) and a Muslim woman, were wounded by the retaliatory fire.

A shell fired by the security forces hit the school, wounding three Year Two children, S.Siyan, 7, K.Mohanapiriya, 7, and K.Karunaikumar,7, the residents added.

It is not known if there were any casualties amongst the LTTE.

The wounded have been admitted at the Batticaloa hospital said sources. One of the students is in critical situation, parents said.

Tension prevailed in the area following the incident and all transport came to a standstill for about two hours, residents said.