Tigers kill 19 more civilians, injure 75

Rafik Jalaldeen

*Children, females among dead

*Third attack by Tigers

Tigers opened fire at a group of civilians killing 19 and injuring at least 69 when over 1,057 civilians escaped and arrived at Udayarkattu seeking protection with the Security Forces in Puthukudiyiruppu yesterday morning.

Around 15 critically injured civilians were airlifted to nearby hospitals. Among the dead were a boy and a girl and five females.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanay-akkara said over 1,057 civilians under LTTE captivity making their way from the Mullaitivu jungle to reach Government controlled areas, had been shot by the Tigers in Udayarkattu. "Among the injured were 11 children and 26 women. Fifteen critically wounded civilians were airlifted to Anuradhapura and Vavuniya hospitals," Brigadier Nanayakkara told the Daily News.

Over 1,057 fleeing civilians had reached west of Puthukudiyiruppu between 6.00am and 7.00am at Task Force-II amidst raging small arms fire by the LTTE. "This was the third inhuman attack carried out by the Tigers to prevent civilians from fleeing LTTE captivity in the Mullaitivu jungles," he added.

Over 6,500 civilians who had crossed Visuamadu, Dharmapuram and Sugandirapuram reached cleared areas on Monday.

The number of civilians crossing over is increasing amidst LTTE attempts to prevent them. The Tigers facing a humiliating defeat are using civilians as a human shield. At least 30 people were killed, including 10 civilians and 20 soldiers, while 64 others were injured when an LTTE woman suicide bomber mingling with IDPs arriving in Visuamadu blew herself up on Monday.