‘Development’ vehicle claims life of woman, villagers confront police

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 May 2012, 23:11 GMT]
A 40-year-old woman was killed on the spot in an accident on Wednesday at Ee'raavoor where a vehicle of a UN agency, carrying foreign officials, hit a group of women crossing the street at Ampa'laththadi. Another woman and a 12-year-old girl were rushed to hospital with injuries. The officials were returning after inspecting a ‘development’ project in Kudumpimalai, where Tamils are continuously harassed by the occupying SL military. The villagers, angered by the incident started to throw stones at the vehicle blaming irresponsible driving and the SL police retaliated by assaulting the villagers. The villagers then started to clash with the SL police, causing injuries to three policemen.

The female killed in the accident was identified as Pushpa Ponnuthurai.

A student, seriously injured in the assault by the Sri Lankan police and the military, was rushed to Batticaloa Teaching hospital.

The wounded policemen have been admitted at Chengkaladi hospital.

In the meantime, the SL Police at Ea'raavor said that the driver of the vehicle has been detained for inquiries and that three villagers were arrested on the charges of attacking the vehicle.