Two villagers in Ki’n’niyaa, a Muslim village in Trincomalee, were wounded in the early hours of Monday when Sri Lanka Navy and SL Police opened fire on a group of protesters who were stoning the SL Navy camp after a suspicious vehicle entered the camp. 24 Muslim villagers, including five students, were arrested by the SLN and later given police bail. Tension prevails in Ki’n’niyaa.
Following the recent rumours and incidents of attacks against women by intruders in several places in the East, the villagers of Ki’n’niyaa were vigilant, watching for intruders.
On Sunday night, the villagers spotted a car with suspicious men in it. When the villagers chased the vehicle, they saw it driving into the nearby navy camp. Those in the car were three SLN officers, informed sources said.
The villagers who gathered outside the SLN camp demanded the SL Navy to hand over the men and the car to them and started to stone the camp when the SLN officers refused to do so. The SLN personnel manning the camp opened fire injuring two villagers.
The clash escalated Monday morning as the villagers were demanding the release of the arrested protesters. At least one police vehicle has been put on fire.
Goverment Agent for Trincomalee Major Geneal (Ret.) Ranjith de Silva was blocked inside the divisional secretariat in Ki’n’niya, the sources in Trincomalee further said.
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