SLN assaults three Pallimunai fishermen
[TamilNet, Monday, 19 June 2006, 00:31 GMT]
Three fishermen from Pallimunai returning late Saturday around 7:00 p.m.after fishing in Mannar seas were severely assaulted by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers and have been warded in Mannar Hospital in critical condition, sources in Mannar said. Mannar residents have continued to seek refuge in the three churches in the area after the attack by SLN soldiers at the Our Lady of Victory church in Pesalai Saturday morning which killed 5 civilians and injured over 40, clergy in Pallimunai said.
Large number of local fisher families took refuge in St Lucia's church Saturday after the Pesalai attack, according to local clergy. St Lucia's church in Pallimunai, St.Sebastians Cathedral in Mannar town, and Our Lady of Victory church in Pesalai have traditionally provided sanctuary for the economically disadvantaged fisher folks in Mannar, Talai Mannar islets from threats and harassment by the Mannar based-SLN and SLA soldiers from Thallady camp. Pallimunai is a fishing village located 0.5 km from Mannar town. Pesalai is located nearly 20 km northwest of Mannar town.
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