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Four journalists assaulted

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO Oct. 11. A clash between Sri Lankan police and residents in the island's northern Jaffna peninsula left at least seven persons, including four journalists, injured this evening. Today's unrest — the second in the sensitive northern town in as many weeks — took place after a speeding military truck reportedly knocked down an autorickshaw, injuring one person. Twelve persons have been reportedly arrested in the clashes. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) described it as a "serious incident''.

After this evening's accident, the residents took to the streets and "confronted the Sri Lanka Army troops and police, demanding action against the speeding army vehicles'', a report in the TamilNet website said. The windscreen of an SLMM vehicle was damaged when the restive crowd pelted the police with stones.

Four journalists working for newspapers in Jaffna were reportedly injured in the clash, the report said, quoting a journalist as saying that they were "brutally assaulted although they clearly identified themselves''.

The situation is presently under control, though the Jaffna suburb, Ariyalai, where the incident took place has been put on alert, sources in Jaffna told The Hindu. Last week a similar confrontation took place between the security forces and the public after a speeding Army truck fatally knocked down one person.

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