Gurunagar civilians apprehensive

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Civilians who live by the shore, on Beach road in Gurunagar in Jaffna town, said that they do not sleep in their houses at night now as they fear clashes between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan army might erupt any day in the area.

moving interior at night to sleep because they (SLA sentries) are nervous that the LTTE might approach by sea and attack their positions as the Libearation Tigers has done twice since late last month.

Civilians in Beach Road were beaten up by the army after both attacks they said.

Even moving away from the shore at night may not help as the army is also doing the same said residents.

They said the army is putting everyone at risk by moving into densely populated areas to protect themselves from attacks by Liberation Tigers.

Meanwhile, the owner of a small night restaurant in Jaffna town who was going home late last night was shot dead by the army at Five Junction on Manippai road.

He was identified as J. Arulanantham, 33. His body was handed over to the Jaffna hospital this morning around 10 a.m. by the Sri Lankan Police in Jaffna town.