Clashes between Tamil groups have left at least 65 dead in the East

Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya the Muslim congress leader said that complaints to authorities by villagers of Senapura in Polonnaruwa district have gone unheeded. He further said that villagers of Senapura and Katuwanwila have complained about extortion by the groups.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) monitoring the ceasefire between the Sri Lankan Government and the Tamil Tigers are not present in the Polonnaruwa district as it is not regarded as an area of conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. However, an increase of armed Tamil group activities have been reported from Polonnaruwa district since LTTE eastern commander Karuna broke away in March.

Muslims in Polonnaruwa took to streets against killings

Two Muslims were shot dead in Athugala in the Polonnaruwa district on the 6th of October. Senapura and Katuwanwila are close to Athugala. Rauff Hakim told Sandeshaya that police inquiries have not made any progress even though he had recorded his suspicions about the Tamil group involved. Five days after the Athugala killing the LTTE killed two members of the Karuna group in Nagastenna. Earlier, suspected armed members of the Karuna group who were taken into custody from a Buddhist temple in Polonnaruwa were released on bail.

The LTTEs complaint that the Sri Lankan military is helping the Karuna group has been denied by the government. Clashes between the Karuna group and the Tamil Tigers have left at least 65 dead in the East.