Another accident sparks riot in Jaffna: Journalists attacked
By Our Jaffna Correspondent
Police fired warning shots and batton-charged crowds, injuring four journalists after an accident involving an army vehicle and a three-wheeler at Ariyalai junction in Jaffna sparked a riot.

Eight persons were arrested for allegedly pelting stones at the army and police following the accident in which a passenger of the three-wheeler was injured. The driver of the three-wheeler had jumped off the vehicle and escaped unhurt. A journalist identified as K. Ithayapavan has been injured and hospitalised while three other journalists sustained minor injuries.

Police said they were trying to disperse the crowds, but eyewitnesses said journalists who were covering the incident were beaten and their cameras damaged although they showed their accreditation cards issued by the Government Information Department.

The incident took place a week after another army vehicle collided with a motorcycle killing two persons. Police had to fire teargas, rubber bullets and warning shots to disperse a crowd which gathered to protest against the incident.

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