Front Page

Front Page

Demos in Jaffna after road tragedy
By Our Jaffna Correspondent
Police fired tear gas and warning shots into the air to disperse crowds in Jaffna town last morning after they turned violent during a protest following the deaths of two youths in an accident involving an Army vehicle.

At least three persons were injured in the clashes while the army last night deployed more than 300 personnel in the Jaffna town to prevent further clashes.
Last morning crowds gathered at the Main Street Convent junction where the accident took place on Friday evening, surrounded an army sentry point and started demanding that the sentry point be withdrawn, claiming it was an obstacle for vehicles.

The crowd turned unruly and pelted stones and bottles filled with sand towards the sentries and the police rushed to the scene. More than 500 had gathered for the demonstrations. Similar scenes were observed in the Kondavil area where they had blocked the Jaffna - Palaly main road. One of those killed was from that area.

An army truck allegedly driven at high speed crashed into a motorcycle killing the two youths on the spot. They were reportedly dragged for about 30 metres. The army driver, identified as Corporal Gamini Dissanayake was arrested, produced before Jaffna Additional Magistrate, Srinidhi Chandrasekaran and remanded till October 13.

Jaffna SSP Hector Dharmasiri said the police would ensure an impartial inquiry on the tragedy.

Back to Front Page