LTTE guns down four farmers

Rafik Jalaldeen

POLONNARUWA: Four paddy farmers were shot dead by the LTTE at Nidanwela area in Aralaganwila, Polonnaruwa yesterday morning, Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.

According to the Brigadier around 15 farmers were harvesting in their fields when a group of LTTE terrorists numbering between eight and 12 appeared suddenly and opened fire indiscriminately on the farmers. It is revealed that the LTTE assailants had come from Thoppigala, Nidanwela 17km from Aralaganwila.

Three farmers were killed on the spot while another succumbed to his injuries on admission to the Aralaganwila hospital.

“The rest of the farmers ran away to save their lives,” Brigadier Samarasinghe said. He said the LTTE which has suffered heavy defeats at the hands of the Security Forces in the North and East are now turning their guns on civilians in utter desperation.