Three bodies of farmers found in Thamberawewa

Rafik Jalaldeen

The bodies of three farmers who were allegedly abducted by the LTTE were found yesterday morning in Thambarawewa, Tissamaharama while two others escaped from their captors , police said.

Five people including a woman were reported missing after they went to their Chena on October 26 in the Thamabarawewa area. The villagers had launched a search for the missing farmers and found a shattered push bicycle under a shade built by the Chena farmers as a resting place, police sources said.

The two escapees including the woman reported the incident to the Tissamaharama police. They said that three other farmers who were abducted with them were killed and dumped in the jungle, police spokesman Senior DIG Jayantha Wickramaratne said. "Following the information from the two escapees police rushed to the scene yesterday at around 6.00 am and found the three bodies with cut injuries", DIG Wickramaratne said.

The victims have been identified as W. K. Hemananda (47), N. H. Jinadasa alias Kammala Basunnahe (55) and K. K. Piyasena (55). They all were residents of Thambarawewa. "Tissamaharama police are conducting inquiries while a hunt is on for alleged LTTERs who committed the deed. According to DIG Wickramaratne, five framers were abducted by suspected LTTEers from a Chena in a remote area while they were guarding their cultivations from elephants.

"There were certain media reports which said that the LTTE was roaming in Ranminithenna, Tissamaharama. "Ranminitenna is a village already given full security and it is located 5km from where this incident took place", he added.

He reiterated that security has been strengthened in Hambantota and in the Moneragala districts. "Additional security have been deployed by police jointly with Home Guards to provide security and safety for the identified isolated Sinhala villages bordering Yala sanctuary, Tissamaharama, Kataragama, Buttala areas. Security has also been increased in Moneragala districts and more bunkers were established at such isolated villages", he said.

Meanwhile, a civilian was injured in a bomb explosion in Hambantota and was admitted to the Hambantota hospital.