SLA soldier killed in grenade attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 February 2000, 18:31 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed and another wounded in a grenade attack at Maylankadhu in Erlalai in the Jaffna peninsula, around 6.30 p.m. this evening sources said.

At least 10 people were arrested during a subsequent search operation by the SLA soldiers. Six of them were later released after being severally assaulted, the sources added

Several others were also assaulted by the soldiers, the sources added..

Meanwhile S.Sivakumaran, who owns a hair-dressing saloon in Punalaikadduvan was arrested by the SLA soldiers yesterday.

The grenade attack happened when the soldiers took him to the Erlalai area today. Sivakumaran was also injured in the attack, the sources added.

Else where in the peninsula three people were injured when a shell hit a house at Usan in the Thenmaradchi Division around 9.30 p.m. today.

The wounded were identified as: Sokkaiah Maniraj,44, his son, Vijenthiran Maniraj,12, and Masilamani Sasireka,24. There were admitted at the Jaffna hospital.

Sources in Jaffna said the Liberation Tigers and the SLA soldiers exchanged mortar fire in the Elephant Pass area this evening. Further details were not known.