Amid a general rise in tension across the Northeast, Muslim community leaders and the Liberation Tigers are struggling to contain communal hostility from spiraling into violence in the Muttur region of Trincomalee where normal life has been severely disrupted in the past few days.
At least seven people from both communities have been murdered in what the LTTE has condemned as an effort to provoke communal violence. Efforts to promote dialogue are also struggling as a Muslim delegation expressed anxiety about traveling through Tamil areas.
Muttur Police recovered two bodies of civilians Monday evening from the old jetty in Muttur town. They are believed to be two of the five Tamils abducted Sunday evening by a Muslim mob.
One discussion took place Sunday between delegations of LTTE and Muslim civil group at Kaddaiparichchan. Both sides explored ways to bring normalcy in Muttur division. The meeting was chaired by international truce observers of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
However, another round of talks scheduled to be held Monday evening in Kaddaiparichchan was put off indefinitely as Muslim delegation failed to turn up, citing security fears traveling through LTTE controlled areas.
The recovery of three bodies of Muslim persons Sunday early morning from an abandoned well in Muttur town area came after attacks on Tamils left two people dead.
The violence erupted Saturday afternoon with the shooting of a Muslim person Haja Mohideen in Thoppur. Thereafter a group of persons had set fire to a three-wheeler and attacked three Tamil civilian passengers with knives and poles at a village Thoppur. Two of them died on the spot and the third person sustained serious injuries, police said.
In the meantime, more soldiers and police personnel have been sent to several Muslim and Tamil villages in Muttur division to prevent further violence.
Several Muslim and Tamil families residing in the border areas of villages affected by the violence have sought refuge in safer areas in the division, police said.
At least seven people from both communities have been murdered in what the LTTE has condemned as an effort to provoke communal violence. Efforts to promote dialogue are also struggling as a Muslim delegation expressed anxiety about traveling through Tamil areas.
Muttur Police recovered two bodies of civilians Monday evening from the old jetty in Muttur town. They are believed to be two of the five Tamils abducted Sunday evening by a Muslim mob.
One discussion took place Sunday between delegations of LTTE and Muslim civil group at Kaddaiparichchan. Both sides explored ways to bring normalcy in Muttur division. The meeting was chaired by international truce observers of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
However, another round of talks scheduled to be held Monday evening in Kaddaiparichchan was put off indefinitely as Muslim delegation failed to turn up, citing security fears traveling through LTTE controlled areas.
The recovery of three bodies of Muslim persons Sunday early morning from an abandoned well in Muttur town area came after attacks on Tamils left two people dead.
The violence erupted Saturday afternoon with the shooting of a Muslim person Haja Mohideen in Thoppur. Thereafter a group of persons had set fire to a three-wheeler and attacked three Tamil civilian passengers with knives and poles at a village Thoppur. Two of them died on the spot and the third person sustained serious injuries, police said.
In the meantime, more soldiers and police personnel have been sent to several Muslim and Tamil villages in Muttur division to prevent further violence.
Several Muslim and Tamil families residing in the border areas of villages affected by the violence have sought refuge in safer areas in the division, police said.
