Ambush kills one

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 July 1999, 13:17 GMT]
A Special Task Force (STF) trooper was killed and 3 others, including an officer, were wounded in a claymore mine attack on their vehicle at around 1.30 p.m. in Vankalai west of Murunkan in the north-east of the island, sources said.

Nimalratne Perera's body was brought to Vavuniya hospital in the afternoon. He had been driving the truck.

The wounded were taken to Anuradhapura hospital, the sources added.

The troops were transporting materials in a truck to put up a defence line in Vankaalai area.

Meanwhile, several youth waiting at a Vavuniya bus stand and on the town's streets were taken in by Sri Lankan security forces.

The detainees were collected in a bus and taken to the Urban Council Public grounds at noon today for an identification parade to locate the LTTE members who had infiltrated the town, sources said.

However details of anyone arrested subsequently were not known immediately.

Residents said that Poonthoddam 2 km north east of Vavuniya town was cordoned off and searched by the Sri Lankan forces early this morning.

Everyone present on the road were checked and later allowed to go, residents said.