4TH LEAD

Grenade attack wounds 21 Muslims in Kaaththaankudi, 7 children among the victims

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 September 2008, 14:34 GMT]
Unknown attackers riding in a motorbike lobbed a grenade near Jain Maulana mosque in Kaaththaankudi town Monday around 6:25 p.m., wounding 21 Muslim civilians. Five of the victims are children, according to initial reports. The attack has targeted Muslims on their way to evening prayers. Tension prevails in the town as elements of factionalised TMVP paramilitary and armed elements among the Muslims have been inciting violence between the Tamil and Muslim communities, sources in Batticaloa said.

Meanwhile, two Muslims were wounded when a mob attacked a bus heading from Kalmunai to Batticaloa at Kaaththaankudi border, according to latest reports. The wounded civilians were rushed to Kaaththaankudi hospital and 20 of them have been transferred to Batticaloa Teaching hospital. Three of the wounded were children between 7 and 10 years and four between 13 and 16 years, initial reports said.

Two motorbikes were damaged in the explosion. The attack comes in the wake of protests after two Tamil goat traders from the bordering Aaraiyampathi were reported missing since September 18 when they went to Kaaththaankudi. One of them, Sukanthan, 25, was confirmed dead after his corspe washed ashore in Ampaa'rai on Friday.