LTTE terrorists indiscriminately attack people at camps

Ranil Wijayapala

MUTTUR: Fifteen civilians taking refuge at the Al-Nuriya Muslim School in Thoppur and Arabic School in Muttur were killed and more than 30 injured when LTTE terrorists indiscriminately fired artillery at two different times yesterday, military sources told the Daily News.

The LTTE fired mortars and artillery towards Muttur town yesterday too while Security Forces were engaged in search and clearing operation to flush out groups of LTTE terrorists from Muttur town.

According to the Media Centre for National Security, five refugees were killed and 10 wounded at the Al-Nuriya Muslim School in Thoppur, Trincomalee during LTTE artillery shelling at the school around 3.15 p.m.

Ten civilians were killed and more than 20 injured around 1.15 p.m. when the LTTE fired artillery towards the Arabic School in Muttur where hundreds of civilians were taking refuge following fighting between the Security Forces and the LTTE.

"The indiscriminate attack by the Tigers is clear evidence of their vicious plan to involve civilians and put the blame on the Security Forces to tarnish their image in the eye of the international community," the Media Centre for National Security stated.

Naval troops amidst heavy mortar and artillery fire, evacuated more than 80 civilians to the Trincomalee Hospital around 5.15 p.m. yesterday.

"Terrorists disrupted casualty transportation along the roads by firing mortars and artillery shells," the Media Centre for National Security said.

A body of a Policeman was among the injured.

According to sources at the Trincomalee Hospital, 64 civilians and 12 Police personnel evacuated from Muttur were admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon while some who were critically injured were flown to Colombo for immediate medical treatment.

According to military sources, Security Forces were engaged in a house to house search operation in Muttur yesterday too, amidst artillery and mortar fire by the LTTE from the Sampur side.

Security Forces flushed out LTTE terrorists from Muttur during their search operation killing more than 40 LTTE terrorists in Muttur during the past two days.