LTTE torches bus carrying schoolchildren

Rafik Jalaldeen

JAFFNA: The LTTE set fire to an SLCTB bus in Jaffna after ordering its passengers to get out last morning. The bus belonging to the Kondavil depot was plying from Maradanamadam to Urimpirai when it was forced to stop at a point on the Palai main road by a group of LTTEers riding motorcycles.

They had ordered the passengers out and flung a petrol bomb into the bus setting it ablaze. The incident occurred around 7.20 a.m.

The passengers included a large number of schoolchildren and women. "The LTTE cadres forced out the passengers from the bus before lobbying a petrol bomb into it," Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.

None of the passengers were injured in the incident while the bus was completely destroyed, he said.

According to the Brigadier, LTTE cadres are trying to sabotage public administration in cleared areas.

"This is an act of blatant vandalism by the LTTE which was condemned by the public severely affected by lack of transport facilities," he added. Meanwhile, a Tiger cadre was shot dead and another injured by the Security Forces when they attempted to spy at the Muhamalai Forward Defence Line yesterday morning.