Civilians injured in pre-poll shelling

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five civilians, including a 12 year old child, were injured when the Sri Lankan Army shelled Gurnagar, an area by the lagoon in Jaffna town yesterday around 10:45 p.m., said the Jaffna TN correspondent.

The shelling which is believed to have originated from either the Palaly or Atchelu camp north of Jaffna town, destroyed a house in Gurunagar which was occupied by the five people who were injured by the shrapnel.

The condition of three them is said to be critical.

The house was close to a five storied building.

Unconfirmed reports reaching the TN correspondent said the SLA had shelled boats of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the lagoon.

The army also fired heavy artillery in the direction of the coast southeast of Jaffna town and further south towards Pooneryn.

Security in Jaffna has been tightened for the local government polls which is now in progress.