Civilians Casualties were not due to Bomb Blast at the Visuvamadu

PTK: The Sri Lankan security forces (SF) opened up barrages after barrages of multi barrel shells into the Thevipuram, Vallipunam and Chuthanthirapuram as the Sri Lankan Security Forces (SF) was coordinated the attacks on the internally displaced civilians in Mulaitivu 'Safe Zone' which was announced by the government. At least 41 people were killed and 119 were badly injured.

In Thevipuram, SF opened up artillery attacks from early morning 2:00 a.m. at least 18 civilians were killed and 55 civilians were badly injured. At least 250 shells were fired towards Thevipuram area.

In Chuthanthirapuram, SF opened up artillery attacks from early morning at least 4 civilians were killed and 32 civilians were badly injured.

Colombo: An eye witness report reaches to the TNS reporter in Mulaitivu indicates that civilians casualties reported at the military check points near Visuvamadu area, where the Sri Lankan forces (SF) operating a 'IDP rescue centre' were in fact due to gunfire at the civilians by the SF after a bomb blast.

Some of the civilians who escaped the gun fire from the SF and reached the LTTE area gave chilling accounts of how the SF troopers fired at the innocent civilians who were waiting to be screened at the 'IDP rescue centre'.

A perusal of the video clippings also released by the SF would show that the civilian casualties are not due to bomb blast, analysts said.

One of the escaped persons recounted his past experience with the TNS reporter in Mulaitivu. He said, he was twice lucky to have very close shaves with his death within past 24 years.

"In 1985, I was taken along with nearly 30 other civilians to the Valvettiturai, Oorani cemetery hall by the hundreds of Sri Lankan Security Forces after the SF forces have done random search operations and arrests of civilians in near by villages," he told the TNS reporter.

"One of the officers, who was inquiring me, asked me what I was doing in near by village as I was from another village near Jaffna Town"

"I told him, that, I was married to a girl in that village only two days back, and I am here in this village in my spouse’ house on my honeymoon."

"Then he asked would you give me the wedding ring as a gift, without even waiting, I removed my wedding ring and handed over to him"

"The SF officer, then handed over the ring back to me, and asked me to leave that place, I was fearing the worst that, they would shoot me, once I start to move, I slowly obeyed his order, but, in front of my eyes all 30 people were fired upon by the group of SF troopers in that hall while they were hand tied at their backs and lying on the floor. All 30 of them were shot and killed on that spot on that day, I still have nightmares about that day," he added.

"Today’s event reminded me yet again the horrible event of Oorani massacre by the SF troopers in 1985 and I am still shaking as I saw the horror of how indiscriminately the SF troopers fired at the civilians waiting for the screening process at the so called 'IDP rescue centre'", he added.

He said, he heard a bomb blast in nearby area a few minutes ago, and then SF troopers who were with waiting civilians at the 'IDP rescue centre’ seemed panicked and screamed at the waiting people and then started to fire at them indiscriminately, he recounted to the TNS reporter after escaping back into the LTTE held area near by.