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Angry mob attacks SLMM vehicle in Trinco
By Sinniah Gurunathan and A.T.M. Gunananda
A Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) vehicle came under attack yesterday when its members went to investigate the killing of a police sergeant and other related violence in the Mahindapura, Serunuwara area yesterday.
SLMM monitors in Trincomalee, Ove Jansen, Morten Johnson and their driver were attacked by villagers angered by the policeman’s death. However they escaped with one monitor receiving minor injuries.

Acting spokesperson and Legal Advisor of the SLMM Bilja Kutvonen told The Sunday Times that soon after the attack the security forces escorted the monitors back to Trincomalee after abandoning the investigations. “We are very concerned about this incident and we are assessing how to perform our duties safely in this district,” Ms. Kutvonen said.

On Friday night S. Muthubanda, a police sergeant attached to the Intelligence Unit was shot dead in Serunuwara by an unidentified gunman. Tension prevailed after this incident yesterday in Serunuwara, Hali Oluwa, Thanganagar and other Tamil villages in the locality.

Two lorries belonging to the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) transporting boats and cadjan to Tiger-held Eachchilampathu division through Serunuwara and Hali Oluwa junction were set on fire and one of the drivers Kamaldas was assaulted by angry mobs.

More troops and police were deployed to bring the situation under control, police said. Tamil villagers in LTTE-held Eachchilampathu were reluctant to enter government-controlled areas via Mahindapura army camp through fear of reprisals.

Tamil villagers residing close to Sinhala areas are reported to be temporarily moving out of their homes for safety.

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