Death toll in Trinco violence rises to 19, fifteen identified

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 April 2006, 12:18 GMT]
15 of 19 civilians killed in Trincomalee violence on Wednesday were identified Thursday. 7 victims were Sinhalese civilians, 6 were Tamils and 2 Muslims. The bodies of another three Tamil persons, burnt alive inside a three-wheeler in Linganagar, were not in identifiable state, medical sources said. Another dead body is yet to be identified.

Five of the six identified Tamil victims and two of the seven Sinhalese victims were women, medical sources said.

A parcel bomb that was placed on the road side in front of a co-conut shop opposite the entrance to the vegetable market, exploded first.

There were reports of grenade explosions and gunshots by the Sri Lankan soldiers after the explosion of the parcel bomb.

The three burnt bodies, recovered in Linganagar area, a suburb of east port town, were handed over to the mortuary of the Trincomalee general hospital Thursday.

Earlier, there was a report that a gang had attacked Tamils going in a three-wheeler and a motorbike when passing Linganagar.

Dr.Ms K.Gnanagunalan, Medical Superintendent of the Trincomalee general hospital with Dr.Gamini Gunatilake, Medical Officer held the postmortem examination.