Mandoor STF attacks Temple devotees

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 June 2003, 03:57 GMT]
Devotees of Kannakai amman temple in 15th Colony in Mandoor, who were on their way to obtain provisions from Vellavelly, Kambiyirakkam village for the final festival were beaten by the Special Task Force (STF) soldiers stationed in Mandoor, security sources said.

Vellavelly is located 35 km Southwest of Batticaloa town and is under the control of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). STF and Sri Lanka Police who were originally stationed in Vellavelly are currently camped in Mandoor located 5 km south of Vellavelly.

STF soldiers had demanded the devotees to bring sand and gravel to their camps in the tractors the devotees were travelling. When the devotees refused saying that they have to return with provisions in time for the temple festival, they were beaten and one of them, Sounthararajan sustained severe injuries, according to the residents.

The injured have registered a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and also have informed about the incident to Mr. Chandra Nehru, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, sources said.