COLOMBO, Nov. 28, Renter: Tamil rebels threw hand grenades at Indian soldiers distributing relief supplies in North Sri Lanka, killing five civilians queuing up for food, military sources said,
Four local residents were injured by the grenades lobbed by two ration Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) guerrillas at Chavakachccheri in Jaffna peninsula. There ‘was no word of any Indian causality
The LITE repudiated a July Peace pact aimed at ending the Tamil separatist conflict in the island.
About 20,000 Indian troops stationed in the North and East to enforce the pact continued operations against Tiger rebels while helping to return life in Jaffna to normal after a major offensive in October to disarm the guerrilla.
A major relief operation is underway in Jaffna but lack of Lorries in Vavuniya district near the peninsula prevented some food supplies moving {0 the war-torn area, Sri Lanka’s state radio reported on Saturday.
The State-owned Daily News said on Saturday both Sri Lankan and Indian navies were on the lookout for four small ships registered abroad but believed owned by the Tigers.
The newspaper quoted official sources as saying the cargo vessels have been plying Southeast Asian shipping lanes.
The Tigers used to smuggle in their weapons by sea, mostly ac05s from South India to North Sri Lanka but military officials suspect arms smuggling along the ‘astern coast.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 4, 1987
