In LTTE held area:

Unprecedented killings, torture

Rafik JALALDEEN

Unprecedented killings and torture are taking place in the uncleared areas by the LTTE, according to civilians who have fled from their clutches and ICRC aid workers in the uncleared area.

Civilians are pleading with the ICRC to save them from LTTE atrocities in the uncleared area which include forceful recruitment, killings and kidnappings taking place in the No Fire Zone.

Addressing the media yesterday at the MCNS Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that 45,519 civilians have escaped from the clutches of the LTTE and had reached the cleared areas seeking protection with the Security Forces. According to intelligence information the LTTE had built bunkers among the displaced people in the Safe Zone demarcated by the Security Forces. These bunkers were built to monitor civilian movement, as well as to collect food, fuel and medical items that are delivered to civilians.

Brigadier Nanayakkara said the LTTE is recruiting children forcefully from each family living in the Safe Zone as they face a shortage of combatants.

When parents refuse to surrender their loved ones they come under LTTE attack. The out raged civilians have set fire to a LTTE police station and some of their vehicles.

Two civilians were killed when the LTTE opened indiscriminate fire directing a group of civilians fleeing from the LTTE grip.

Following the incident, the out raged people have set fire two LTTE motorcycles and four vans, he added.

In another incident, the LTTE killed two and injured five others from the same family. When the LTTE cadres attempted to recruit a child, parents of the family had protested and the LTTE indiscriminately opened fire at the family members. Parents of the family were killed and five others injured.

Later a mob stormed to the LTTE police station to inquire about the incident and a clash had occurred between the mob and the LTTE police. The mob destroyed the LTTE ‘police station’. Over 60 armed LTTE police who had come to control the situation, indiscriminately opened fire at the mob killing many civilians and injuring many others.