Mob attacks continue in Nuwara Eliya

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 October 2000, 16:19 GMT]
An second, 24 hour curfew was declared in several towns in the Nuwara Eliya district, about 100 km. east of Colombo, as communal violence against the Tamils continued for a second day. Sinhalese thugs set fire to twenty shops belonging to Tamils in Ginigathhena Monday afternoon, and fourteen people were injured in the riots, said sources.

Mobs also stoned several buses, and vehicles, smashing their windows and lights, said the sources. The wounded were admitted to Nawalapitiya hospital.

Meanwhile the police and army conducted search operations in tea plantations in Talawakele Monday, arresting many Tamils.

On Sunday four Tamils were killed and several others were wounded in Talawakele when the police opened fire after riots broke out between Sinhalese thugs and demonstrators who were protesting against the massacre at Bindunuwewa detention centre, in Bandarawela. A 12 hour curfew imposed Sunday was eased at 5 a.m. Monday.

Hundreds of heavily armed troops and police have been deployed in the area.