Firefights in Point Pedro, Thavady

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 December 2005, 01:39 GMT]
Unknown assailants hurled hand grenades and fired at the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) post guarding the Northern Regional Bus Depot located at 1 km from Point Pedro town on the Pt Pedro-Jaffna road at 9 p.m. Friday. SLA returned fire and the firefight continued for more than five minutes, according to residents.

SLA blocked vehicular traffic after the incident, and sources from Point Pedro said that normal bus service has not resumed till 9 a.m. Saturday.

SLA has cordoned off the area around the bus depot and conducted searches.

A similar grenade attack at the SLA checkpoint and firefight took place around the same time near Thavady. Jaffna along KKS road 4 km north of Jaffna town.

No injuries were reported from either incident.

Jaffna district was otherwise calm during Friday night, sources said.

However, residents in Jaffna fear that with the completion of G,C.E (Ordinary Level) examinations Saturday, clashes may intensify.