3RD LEAD (Correction)

Trincomalee, suburbs under dusk to dawn curfew, violence widespread

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 April 2006, 11:39 GMT]
Dusk to dawn curfew has been enforced in Trincomalee town and its suburbs Varothianagar, Kanniya, Mihindupura Friday evening following the escalation of violence that erupted in Mihindapura, a suburb about five km off Trincomalee on Trincomalee-Anuradhapura road as a group of persons attacked houses of Tamil residents in the area following the discovery of a body of Sinhalese youth Nissanka who was reported missing from Thursday. The Police rushed more personnel to Mihindapura and other areas in Kanniya village where also several houses are reported burnt down by unruly mobs. Initial reports said a Hindu Nadesar temple and an NGO office, Aham, were burnt down in Mihindapura.

Tamil residents have started fleeing from suburbs seeking refuge in the adjoining areas, civil sources said.

Navy bowzers were seen on Friday evening taking water to the affected areas, residents said.

Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian immediately brought this situation to the notice of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (east region), sources said.

The office of the Trincomalee District Youth Development Aham (TDYDA), a non-governmental organization was also attacked and motorbikes and other materials in the office were also burnt in the violence. Several houses and a prominent Hindu temple in the area were also attacked, sources said.

More policemen and troops were sent to the site to contain the violence.

There was no marked improvement in the situation in Trincomalee, civil sources reported.