Date:19/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/19/stories/2008011953651400.htm

International

10 killed in attack on Sri Lanka village

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: At least 10 civilians were killed in a fresh carnage by suspected cadres of the LTTE on Thursday night in Uva province of the island nation even as 12 cadres of the Tigers and two soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were killed in continuing clashes along the Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) in the north in the past 24 hours.

Two days ago, 32 civilians were killed in Uva province as suspected LTTE cadres targeted a civilian passenger bus and shot dead five farmers. The police believe the Thursday night massacre of the farmers in the province was committed by the same group of suspected LTTE cadres responsible for the January 16 incidents. The police and military have launched a massive search in the province in pursuit of the killers presumed to be hiding in the jungles.

A statement by the Defence Ministry said the latest attack on the farmers occurred at Kalawalgala, a remote village in the Thanamalwila area around 10 p.m. on Thursday. The statement said the suspected killers have laid anti-personnel mines in the area in order to slow down army pursuit.

Separately, the military said at least 11 cadres of the Tigers were killed and many injured in clashes at Wanni and northern defences. Two soldiers also died “as troops advanced into non-liberated territory, ahead of LTTE defences.”

Further, the military said that in Jaffna, troops while conducting a search operation on Thursday in genera area Irupalai, came under LTTE fire and troops retaliated and neutralised the LTTE attack.