2ND LEAD

5 Civilians killed in shelling after LTTE raid

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 May 2008, 01:32 GMT]
Five civilians, including children and a couple, were killed and 13 persons were wounded when shells hit the coastal villages Kurunakar, Kozhumpuththu'rai, Paasaiyoor and the areas close to Jaffna Fort, Thuraiappa Stadium and the Sri Lanka Telecommunication building in the early hours of Thursday, following the LTTE raid at Chi'ruththeevu islet close to Jaffna.

Two children, boys of age 14 and 13, and a mother were killed in Paasaiyoor. Father and another brother were wounded.

In Kurunakar, Joseph Francis, 54, and his wife Joseph Francis Sagayarani, 53, were killed on the spot when shells hit their house. Their children were wounded in the attack, according to initial reports. Their house was located near Kurunakar water tank.

13 civilians have been admitted in Jaffna hospital following the shelling duel.

Residents in the coastal areas reported shelling since 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

Chronology: