A container loaded with dynamites parked in Vaazhazichcheanai police station located in a densely populated area poses threat to people’s lives as was the cause of the explosion in Karadiyan-aa’ru police station 17 September claiming many lives, sources in Batticaloa said. Sri Lanka police who had occupied the buildings of Liberation Tigers during the war to escape Tiger attacks continue to use them as police stations where containers of dynamite are usually parked. Meanwhile, more than hundreds of bodies of persons killed in Karadiyan-aa’ru explosion were found lying after the blast occurred, eye witnesses said. They had seen a large number of injured and killed policemen being swiftly removed through Makaa Oyaa to Sinhala areas.
The State-run China Overseas Holdings Limited company is engaged in constructing highways in Batticaloa district including those from Kalmunai to Batticaloa and the highways connecting Vaazhaichcheanai, Verukal, Badulla and Kalladi Bridge with Batticaloa town.
Two Chinese engineers among the victims killed were taken to the place where the dynamite was stored by two Chinese men and by four employees of Illuppaiyadi and Veappaveddavaan Divisional Secretariat including drivers.
The Chinese company constructs highways blasting away granite rocks at some places, using dynamites.
The hospital building located 200 m from Karadiyan-aa’ru police station and Karadiyan-aa’ru Makaa Viththiyaalayam school buildings 400 m from it were affected by the explosion.
Liberation Tiger Batti-Ampaa’rai political head had used the building in Karadiyan-aa’ru now occupied by Sri Lanka police as a public relation office.
Sri Lanka Army, Special Task Force and the police are occupying similar buildings in Paduvaankarai area in Batticaloa district.
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