Pro-Rebel Website Says 15 Civilians Killed in SLA shelling

TamilNet says 15 Civilians Die in SLA Church Shelling

14 August 2006 (New Delhi)


A pro-rebel webste reports that at least 15 persons were killed and 20 severely wounded when rockets and artillery shells fired from Palaly military base hit St. Phililp Mary Church in Allaipiddy, Sunday morning, where civilians had sought refuge.

It says ambulances dispatched from Jaffna hospital Sunday evening brought the wounded to the hospital. 37 wounded civilians were rushed to Jaffna hospital from other areas, Allaipiddy, Mankumban and Mandaithivu.

The Tamil Net report said SLA soldiers resumed firing rockets from a Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) from Duraiappa stadium in Jaffna town, Sunday evening.
Three of the wounded civilians succumbed to the wounds while they were being taken to Jaffna hospital it quotes sources as saying.

54 wounded persons were being treated at the hospital, 4 dead bodies are lying at the hospital mortuary it reports.

Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC) sources in Jaffna said the civilan casualties could be around 40 in Jaffna islets. Around 100 civilians were wounded according to initial reports.

The shelling from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) base in Palaly were continuing as the SLRC ambulances were bringing the wounded to Jaffna hospital, the website claimed.