One killed in Vavuniya clash

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 August 1999, 23:01 GMT]
A member of the Liberation Tigers was killed in a confrontation with military-trained police at Thavasikulam, an interior village 4 km. north-west of Vavuniya around 11.30 a.m. this morning, police sources said. A civilian was also killed in the incident local residents said.

The police shot at two suspected members of the LTTE when they attempted to escape on spotting a police vehicle.

One of the two men was killed when a grenade in his possession exploded while the other escaped, according to the sources who added there were no Police casualties.

The police say two grenades, a 9-mm. pistol and a walkie-talkie were recovered from the scene.

Residents said that they heard firing, just after a large number of police personnel went to Thavasikulam in the morning.

Police and Army reinforcements have rushed to the area and are conducting a search operation, residents said.

They said that the troops have surrounded the area and no civilians are being allowed move around.