Mob attacks ambulance in Kaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 07:56 GMT]
Nine civilians, 6 of them patients and 3 medical staff, were wounded Thursday around 11:00 a.m. when a mob stoned an ambulance which was on its way to Batticaloa Hospital from Akkaraippattu Base Hospital. The angry Muslim mob was not aware that it was attacking an ambulance with 6 Muslims, Police said. Tension prevails in Kaaththaankudi and the surrounding areas. Meanwhile, medical staff at Batticaloa Teaching hospital staged a protest rally towards Batticaloa Police protesting against the security laps in the area where tension prevailed Thursday and demanded improved security measures for medical workers and ambulances.



Earlier around 10:30 a.m., 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. Tension prevails in Kaaththaankudi and Aaraiyampathi.

Kaaththaankudi turned violent following a rumour that a Muslim trader was knifed in Araiyampathi.

Schools were closed in Batticaloa city and the border areas in Kaaththaankudi at 11:00 a.m. Gates were closed and the staff remain inside at Aaraiyampathi Post Office, MPCS, DS division office and the local coucil Pirathesa Chapai (Pradeshiya Sabha). Batticaloa Technical college located Magnchanthoduvaay was also closed.

Sri Lankan forces were deployed to provide security to the students who left the schools to their villages.



Chronology: