Published on - 11/21/2004
LTTE MOVES TO PROVOKE SECURITY FORCES AND DISRUPT NORMALCY IN JAFFNA FAILED
An LTTE instigated deliberate attempt to provoke Security Forces and disrupt normalcy in the general areas of JAFFNA peninsula after two motorbike-riding LTTE gunmen fired on an Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) supporter but killed two other Tamil civilians during a football match at VELVETTITHURAI, Friday (19) evening, was foiled by Security Forces and the Police using minimum force and showing restraint.
The EPDP supporter, PONNATURAI DEVENDRAN (32) who had been earlier threatened by LTTE with death several times ordering him to vacate the area of residence was watching a football match organized by some youngsters in VELVETTITHURAI school ground when two LTTE gunmen, identified as VENILAVAN and PUBALAN, fired on him indiscriminately from a distance causing fatal injuries to two other Tamil civilians at the location.
In the melee that ensued, the EPDP victim escaped and ran towards the nearby VELVETTITHURAI Police station with bleeding injuries, received to his left hand while those two injured Tamil civilians were being rushed to the URANI hospital. However, the two injured Tamil civilians were pronounced dead on admission to the hospital.
The following day morning (Saturday 20th November 2004), LTTE men after concocting a story against Security Forces instigated a section of residents in the area and forced the mob to walk in procession along the MEESALAI streets and made them to storm the MEESALAI Security Forces sentry point at roadside and unsuccessfully tried to grab the weapons of the Security Forces. However, troops in self-defence used minimum force and fired a few shots in the air before the tension was brought under control by dispersing the mob.
Notwithstanding those moves, LTTE men forced those mobs to stage a Hartal in MEESALAI and VELVETTITHURAI areas, the same day, forcing shops and business premises to close their shutters after they failed to provoke the Security Forces and grab their weapons. LTTE men went on to order suspension of all transport services in the peninsula in an abortive move to cripple normalcy. However, state transport services defied LTTE orders and continued their services until unidentified men from several JAFFNA suburbs suddenly began to pelt stones at a few buses causing injuries to several passengers returning from a funeral. In some instances Security Forces were compelled to provide transport facilities to some stranded civilians who had arrived at MUHAMALAI checkpoint.
In protest to incited acts of violence, all transport services have up to now kept off from roads since late evening on Saturday until an assurance for non-repetition is granted to them. This violent provocation was seen us a concerted attempt by LTTE to strain good relations that exist hitherto between the Security Forces and the public in the peninsula.
Reports further confirmed that LTTE was making an abortive effort to incite law-abiding and peace-loving citizens in VELVETTITHURAI area forcing them to rise against members of the Security Forces for reasons best known only to them. Those provocative actions, alleged to have been orchestrated, in connection with an ongoing LTTE commemorative week, were also reported from elsewhere in BATTICALOA district during past few days. Those several acts of arson and damages on LTTE offices in KALAVANCHIKUDY and ARASADY areas, were now found to have been precipitated by LTTE men themselves in order to bring discredit to the Security Forces in those respective areas.
However, all security measures designed to maintain law and order and sustain normalcy in affected areas in the JAFFNA peninsula have been adopted as directed by the Police in cooperation with Security Forces. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has been alerted about this chain of incidents.
