4TH LEAD

Civilian killed in blast shock, 4 SLA soldiers, 2 civilians wounded in Thenmaradchi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 July 2006, 06:04 GMT]
A saloon owner standing outside his business was killed in blast shock and four Sri Lanka Army soldiers (SLA) were injured when their tractor was hit by a road side Claymore mine at Kodikamam in the Thenmaradchi sector of the Jaffna peninsula, around 9:00 a.m., Tuesday. Two SLA soldiers and a 70-years old civilian who was inside the saloon, were seriously wounded. A saloon worker was also wounded.

The blast occured on the road to Pt.Pedro, about 400 metres from the Kodikamam junction.

The saloon owner who died on the spot was identified as Sinnathamby Nagarasa, 55, from Kudamiyan, Varani.

The wounded SLA troops were airlifted to Palaly military base hospital. Two soldiers were critically wounded, police sources said.

Veerakathi Kandasamy, 70, a civilian was seriously wounded and rushed to Jaffna Hospital.

A cordon and search operation was launched by the SLA troops in the area after the blast and the area remained closed down for civilian access for 3 hours.