Tension prevailed in Thirunelveali area in Jaffna Sunday night as a clash erupted between a group of armed men and the soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) inside the premises of a vacated house that belongs to a popular businessman in Jaffna. The house was burnt down allegedly by the SLA, after the exchange of gunfire, according to the residents in the area. The SLA troops stationed along the Palaali road near Thirunelveali junction opened fire indiscriminately in support of their soldiers who engaged in the clash with the armed men around 7:00 p.m. Casualty details were not available. The house is located 200 meters from Post Box junction near Jaffna-Palaali road.
The armed men had taken position inside the premises of the vacated house, allegedly prepared for an ambush against the SLA soldiers.
The owner of the house, S.V. Balasingham, a businessman, had vacated the house and moved to India. Later, a person who had rented the above house was forced to seek protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna due to death threats by SLA troops and the paramilitaries operating with them. His wife and children, abducted earlier by unknown armed men and released after being warned, had left Jaffna for good.
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