Claymore Kills 9 Fleeing Civilians In Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Army Claymore kills 9 fleeing civilians in Mannaar

Nine civilians fleeing from a Sri Lanka Army offensive towards Chilaavaththu'rai in Musali, Mannaar, were killed and six including children wounded in a Claymore attack carried out by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) Saturday at 8:35 a.m.

Two ambulances sent from Mannaar hospital to transport the wounded were blocked at Chi'rukka'ndal SLA camp. It has taken more than 6 hours to transport the wounded towards Mannaar hospital through a separate route via Achchangku'lam, medical sources said.

15 civilians were fleeing in a van from a fresh offensive operation begun by the SLA from Murungkan towards Chilavaththu'rai. The attack took place at Paasiththen'ral. 3 children were among the wounded.

Two of the wounded, admitted at Mannaar hospital, were identified as Barathy Harishchandran, 29, with severe injuries to her leg, and 10-year-old Balamayooran Sebastiampillai. Four wounded were admitted at Murungkan hospital.

7 dead bodies were lying on the spot, according to the information provided by the fleeing civilians. One dead body is kept at Chilaavattu'rai hospital. Hundreds of civilians have fled towards seeking safety.

Highly decomposed bodies of two children, four women including a 19-year-old girl, and four men, were identified among the twleve civilian victims killed in Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) attack on Saturday at Paasiththen'ral in Musali division in Mannaar district. Two bodies are yet to be identified.

The victims include a father, mother and a four-year-old son with his aunt from one family, and three others from another family.

Meanwhile, another civilian gunned down by the SLA in Musaali division on Saturday was also brought to Mannar hospital and identified by relatives, according to medical sources.

The bodies of the DPU Claymore victims were brought to Mannaar District hospital by the Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC) and ICRC officials in five vehicles Sunday evening at 6:15 p.m.

24-year-old Selvakumar, the driver of the vehicle, his wife Princy Selvakumar, 25, their 4-year-old son Rehushan Selvakumar and the boy's aunt Jesudasan Elizabeth, 42, were identified as four members of a family in front of Mannaar District Magistrate T.J. Prabakaran.

Panimayam Jeyaraj, 50 his son Panimayam Oscar, 20 and 19-year-old girl, a close relative of Mr. Jeyaraj belong to another family of the civilian victims

Three others killed in the DPU attack were identified as 4-year-old girl Puvisuvetha, 25-year-old male Krishnapalan from Vavuniya, and 60-year-old woman Saroja Nagamuththu.

The relatives had to identify the dead using their cloths and belongings as their bodies were in highly decomposed state.

The bodies are to be handed over to the relatives for immediate burial, medical sources said.

Meanwhile, another body of a civilian gunned down by the SLA on Saturday was brought to Mannaar hospital Sunday. The victim was identified as Pulendran and his body was handed over to his relatives for burial.

ENDS

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