Eelam supporters attack military convoy

A group of Eelam supporters including political activists attacked a military convoy near Coimbatore on Saturday,following a rumour that a huge cache of arms including heavy weapons was being taken to neighbouring Kerala to be shipped across for the Sri Lankan Army to use in their war against the LTTE. A driver and a TV reporter were injured in the melee.

The group,mostly members of the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam PDK,stopped the five trucks at Nilambur bypass near Coimbatore and attacked the vehicles alleging that they contained weapons meant to be supplied to the Lankan army. They broke windshields,punctured tyres,and set on fire some of the equipment. Light weaponry was thrown on the tarmac. The cadres raised slogans against the Sri Lankan and Indian governments for the continuing war in Sri Lanka,which has snowballed into a major concern in the run up towards the general election.

Infuriated,the Army personnel retaliated with rods,attacking even the public and press who were present there. The situation was soon brought under control by the police,detaining some of the suspected activists.

The rumour about transporting weapons cache was making the rounds since noon,and high tension prevailed in the region. The protestors made bids to block the passage of the trucks at other places too,though unsuccessfully,said sources. According to police sources,the trucks were carrying personnel from Hyderabad to Madukkarai camp near Coimbatore and not weapons as alleged by the activists.