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Two cabinet ministers of the Ranil Wickremesinghe government were divided as to who was responsible for the grenade explosion that killed three LTTE supporters in Trincomalee while performing a “hartal” against the government. T. Maheshvaran, the UNP MP for Jaffna and the Minister of Hindu Affairs in the UNF cabinet said that the Police was responsible for the three dead and 39 injured in a grenade explosion, October 11, while performing a hartal against the seven deaths of LTTE cadres who died while attacking a STF camp in the Ampara District. Meanwhile the Minister in charge of the Police, John Ameratunga, the Minister of Internal Security said no one could be blamed so far since four committees had been appointed to inquire about the incidents and submit reports to the government. The UNP MP for Jaffna District and cabinet minister directly accused the police for the three deaths of the protesters and the 39 injured in the incident and said the police charged the protesters with tear gas and shot at them. He said the Trincomalee Police was responsible for the incident. Meanwhile the police said the grenade fell accidentally from a LTTE protester and exploded killing the three. John Ameratunga replying over the BBC’s Sandeshaya, the media over which T. Maheshvaran accused the Trincomalee police said his cabinet colleague was not an eyewitness to the incident and four committees were investigating into the incident. He said both Maheshvaran and he visited those who were injured at the Trincomalee Hospital and many did not know who was responsible for the grenade explosion. A few claimed, he said, the police was responsible for the explosion. He said the police was of the opinion the grenade accidentally fell from a LTTE cadre and exploded. After the reports are concluded those responsible would be prosecuted the Minister said. He said Tamil national Alliance Member of Parliament Sampanthan also accused the police for the Trincomalee incident. Asked by the Sandeshaya whether the government was considering recruiting Tamils as Home Guards the Minister said such a proposal had been made. He said it had to be submitted to the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for his approval. John Ameratunga also said a proposal to recruit Tamil officers to the police has been accepted by the government. Asked by the Sandeshaya whether he was aware that STF had been threatening certain Tamil civilians to keep their coffins ready the Minister said it would be inquired into. (EOM) (02/10/14 go2lanka.com) |