3RD LEAD

Bomb blast kills 4 civilians, injures 15 in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 January 2008, 07:48 GMT]
A bomb explosion Thursday around 10:30 a.m on Aadiyapaatham Road in Thirunelveali, Jaffna, killed four civilians and injured at least fifteen. The injured were rushed to Jaffna Teaching hospital. There were no SLA troopers or vehicles at the spot when a Claymore mine attached to a bicycle exploded, civilians in the area said.

Three of the dead civilians were identified as Ponnuththurai Krishnakumar, 32, Koa'ndaavil, Jaffna, Sankarappillai Muththukkumar, 60, from Urumpiraay South, Thirunavukkarasu Pagnchaadcharanathan, 44, Koandaavil East.

The fourth body, in a charred and disfigured state, is yet to be identified.

The bomb, believed to be a Claymore mine which was attached to a parked bicycle, exploded with a deafening noise.

The explosion took place when people traveling on the nearby Palaali main road were standing on the sides, ordered by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops who had suspended all traffic on the main road. Aadiyapaatham Road is rarely used by the SLA.