Published on - 3/28/2005
Scores of irate civilians in the welfare center for Internally Displaced People (IDP) at MANDAN, THIRUKKOVIL on Monday (28) noon confronted an LTTE mob, which came there to abduct a child from the welfare center for LTTE conscription, irrespective of the pleas made by the child's parents.
Four LTTE men on Monday noon at about 12.30 p.m. had first visited THAMBILVIL village and abducted a sixteen year old child for LTTE conscription, prompting his mother to complain it to the nearest Special Task Force (STF) camp in the area, but she was later directed to the THIRUKKOVIL Police station for formal complaint. She had also alerted the SLMM of her son's abduction.
Barely after one and half hours of that abduction, four LTTE men by about 1.50 p.m. today (28) suddenly showed up at the welfare center for Internally Displaced People (tsunami victims) at MANDAN, THIRUKKOVIL and again resorted to the same practice by trying to abduct another seventeen year old child from that center, but their attempt was foiled when parents confronted them and resisted forcing those four LTTEers to turn away.
After a couple of minutes upon their return, a mob of about 40-50 LTTE men on motorbikes and vehicles stormed the IDP center once again went on assaulting inmates and tried to abduct the same child forcibly after threatening his parents and others in the IDP center as all inmates began to flock around those LTTE men.
Irate parents and inmates in the IDP center however confronted those LTTE mobs, abused them and suddenly turned violent assaulting those LTTE mobs with clubs and stones, despite all efforts taken by STF personnel on duty at the center to resolve the matter and restore normalcy as tension began to swell.
As protesting parents were joined by hundreds of inmates in the center, Policemen from the nearest THIRUKKOVIL Police station and additional STF troops had to be deployed to bring the situation under control.
Two Policemen and three STF members during the clashes received injuries in the melee and were referred to medical treatment. Two double cabs (WP-HI 9839) and (NP-HO 6203) and two motorbikes belonging to the LTTE were arrested by the Police immediately after those LTTE mobs fled the area.
Initial reports confirmed that LTTE leaders, MANILAVAN and KUIYLAMBAN, who received forehead and head injuries after irate civilians assaulted them, have been admitted to THIRUKKOVIL government hospital for treatment under Police escort.
Angry civilians in the center have however tried to disrupt the traffic on the highways, but the Police and STF troops have brought normalcy to the affected area after the incident.
