Date:10/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/10/stories/2007021004641500.htm

International

Many troops killed in attack: TamilNet

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: The TamilNet has claimed that several soldiers have been killed in a claymore attack on their bus along Palaly Road, near the Urelu army camp on Thursday night. "The Palaly military command has not released official details on the attack," it said.

Shut down

As per TamilNet, the army has been moving ammunitions and soldiers towards the Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) in Nagarkovil and Thenmaradchy under the cover of darkness during the past several days.

Several towns in Batticaloa district were shut down on Friday in protest against the murder of a Hindu priest four days after he welcomed President Mahinda Rajapakse to Vaharai, captured by the military from the LTTE.

A Defence Ministry statement said shops were closed and transport was halted in several towns to mourn Selliah Parameswar.

The LTTE denied on Thursday killing the priest and put the blame on a breakaway faction allegedly collaborating with security forces. "Family members of the priest said they suspected the paramilitary [breakaway Tiger group] of the murder because the paramilitaries suspected that the priest informed the LTTE about military positions."

The military said accusations levelled against it by pro-LTTE media contradicts the statement made by the priest's wife, Ranjani Parameswara. It said according to Ms. Ranjani, the priest had been jubilant on his return from Vaharai and told her that he was lucky to meet the President. "She also confirmed that it was the LTTE that came to their house last Wednesday. She had heard them say that they were from the LTTE."