Muslim extremists attack Minister’s house

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 June 2002, 15:15 GMT]
A large mob of Muslims led by Islamic extremists attacked and demolished the home of Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister for Fisheries, Mr. Mohideen Abdul Cader, Friday afternoon after prayers at a local mosque in Valaichenai, 32 kilometres north of Batticaloa. The attackers removed weapons of the Minister’s security unit that were in his home, Police sources in the eastern town said. The extremists had railed Mr. Cader after the Friday’s Jummah prayers for not backing their cause and had incited the crowds at the mosque to deal him justice. Meanwhile, another mob led by the Islamic extremists set fire to a local government body’s office in the town’s Tamil quarter.

Police Friday declared curfew in the general area of Valaichenai-Oddmavadi and in Eravur, a Muslim town 14 kilometres north of Batticaloa.

Police sources said that the mob had rushed to Mr. Cader’s house in Oddamavadi, armed with crowbars and other implements following “inflammatory” speeches by the Islamic extremists. The attackers also damaged the house of the minister’s cousin in the area, Police said.

The Minister was not at home when the mob attacked, Police said.

Mr. Cader is a senior leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

Ninety shops and four homes were burnt in the violence in Valaichenai since Thursday morning, Police said. More than sixty persons were wounded and six killed in the violence in the general area of Valaichenai-Oddamavadi.