LTTE terrorists attack bus carrying IDPs; mother of a Catholic
priest killed - Pulliyankualam [Updated]
The LTTE terrorists attacked a bus carrying Tamil
civilians with a hand grenade and small arms fire killing one and
injuring over 13 others at 1.30 AM today at Pulliyankualam (Feb 14).
According to the defence sources, the bus was
transporting a group of IDPs recently fled from the LTTE clutches in
Wanni from Kilinochchi to Vavuniya. A 60 year old mother of two was
killed while 4 children and 9 elderly people were among the injured. The
injured are now being treated at the government hospital Vavuniya.
The deceased has been identified as Sellaia Lechchami
of Barathipuram Kilinochchi. Her son, father Sellaia Thurairathnam and
daughter Malani Justin were also among the passengers in the ill-fated
bus.
According to the eye witness accounts, terrorist after
the hand grenade attack have opened fire at the bus in three directions.
The Army soldier who was at the steering wheel has courageously driven
away the bus without stopping, risking his life to save the innocent
civilians.
"The soldier in the back asked us to lie down as the
attack broke out. Then the driver and him took us to a safer zone
braving the shower small arms fire ... it was them who saved our lives "
, another catholic priest who had come in the same bus has told our
correspondent at the hospital.
This is the fourth deadly attack carried out by the
LTTE terrorists or the "Tamil Tiger Rebels" according to some media,
targeting innocent civilians fleeing from their clutches in Wanni since
the first of this month. Sri Lanka's Human Rights Minister Mahinda
Samarasinghe told foreign journalists yesterday (Feb 13) that at least
another 75,000 to 80,000 civilians forcible kept by the terrorists as a
human shield. |
