LTTE terrorists attack bus carrying IDPs; mother of a Catholic pr

Last modified on: 2/14/2009 2:07:05 PM

LTTE terrorists attack bus carrying IDPs; mother of a Catholic priest killed - Pulliyankualam [Updated] The LTTE terrorists attacked a bus carrying Tamil civilians with a hand grenade and small arms fire killing one and injuring over 13 others at 1.30 AM today at Pulliyankualam (Feb 14). According to the defence sources, the bus was transporting a group of IDPs recently fled from the LTTE clutches in Wanni from Kilinochchi to Vavuniya. A 60 year old mother of two was killed while 4 children and 9 elderly people were among the injured. The injured are now being treated at the government hospital Vavuniya. The deceased has been identified as Sellaia Lechchami of Barathipuram Kilinochchi. Her son, father Sellaia Thurairathnam and daughter Malani Justin were also among the passengers in the ill-fated bus. According to the eye witness accounts, terrorist after the hand grenade attack have opened fire at the bus in three directions. The Army soldier who was at the steering wheel has courageously driven away the bus without stopping, risking his life to save the innocent civilians. "The soldier in the back asked us to lie down as the attack broke out. Then the driver and him took us to a safer zone braving the shower small arms fire ... it was them who saved our lives " , another catholic priest who had come in the same bus has told our correspondent at the hospital. This is the fourth deadly attack carried out by the LTTE terrorists or the "Tamil Tiger Rebels" according to some media, targeting innocent civilians fleeing from their clutches in Wanni since the first of this month. Sri Lanka's Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told foreign journalists yesterday (Feb 13) that at least another 75,000 to 80,000 civilians forcible kept by the terrorists as a human shield.