International   

LTTE fired at bus, says Colombo

— Photo: AP

New card: Sri Lankan Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe shows a temporary identity card, to be issued for internally displaced ethnic Tamils, in Colombo.

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan military on Saturday accused the LTTE of attacking a bus carrying civilians with a hand grenade and small arms fire killing one and injuring over 13 at Pulliyankualam in Wanni.

The Defence Ministry said the bus was transporting a group of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) — who had recently fled from the LTTE clutches in Wanni — from Kilinochchi to Vavuniya.

A 60-year-old mother of two was killed while 4 children and 9 elderly people were among the injured.

The injured are being treated at the Vavuniya government hospital.

The Ministry said after throwing the grenade, the Tiger cadre opened fire at the bus from three sides.

The soldier who was driving the bus did not stop it.

There was no word from the LTTE on the charge.

The pro-LTTE TamilNet in a report talked about death of several civilians in “indiscriminate shelling” by the Army at the newly-designated safe zone.

Saturday’s attack is the fourth in the last few days targeting civilians fleeing the last strongholds of the LTTE. According to Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, at least another 75,000 to 80,000 civilians are forcibly kept by the LTTE as human shield. The military said another 2,684 civilians crossed over into the government-controlled area in the last 24 hours.

Separately, several LTTE suicide boats located on a beach north of Mullathivu were destroyed on Saturday, said Air Force spokesperson Janaka Nanayakkara.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

LTTE fired at bus, says Colombo
Drone attack kills 27 in Pakistan
Bomb detonated at U.N. office in Nepal
Teenage dad not to be prosecuted
First woman Minister in Saudi Arabia
Suu Kyi aide detention extended
On sale now: a pearl carpet
Odour lingers in medieval bottle of scent
H1-B visa bar threatens Indians’ job prospects
Fresh debate over Kanishka bombing

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu