2ND LEAD

16 Tamils wounded in mob attack in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 06:40 GMT]
Sixteen Tamil civilians, traveling in a private bus, lorry and another vehicle on Batticaloa Kalmunai road were wounded when a Muslim mob armed with stones and batons attacked them in Kaththaankudi around 10:30 a.m., following a rumour that a Muslim trader was knifed in Araiyampathi. Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) opened fire to disperse the crowd and brought the said Muslim trader to the street to show that he was unhurt, police officials said. 26 Tamils were wounded. 16 Tamils including 3 females and a 12-year-old minor were admitted to the district hospital in Aaraiyampathi and four of them were transferred to Batticaloa Teaching hospital.

The Muslim trader who had gone to Aaraiyampathi on business purpose was allegedly threatened and his shirt was ripped off. Following the incident, a rumour spread in Kaththaankudi that the said trader was knifed by Tamils in Aaraiyampathi.

The latest episode comes as the federation of mosques on Wednesday encouraged the Muslim traders to engage in businesses as normalcy had resumed.

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