The ongoing battle for supremacy in the predominantly Muslim township of Kattankudy, south of Batticaloa, is threatening to spread to adjoining areas.
"We are expecting more violence," a senior security official said yesterday, adding, "Two Muslim religious groups are targeting each other. Unfortunately both groups are armed and are in the process of acquiring more weapons."
The official did not rule out the possibility of both groups obtaining arms and ammunition from LTTE dissidents (Karuna loyalists).
A senior SLMC official emphasised that there was ‘no political link’ while expressing concern over, what he termed was, the deteriorating situation in the area.
Army headquarters has authorised the deployment of troops in Kattankudy in support of the police. Despite heavy joint police-army presence, attackers managed to mount attacks on Mosques over the past few days. Violence erupted on Sunday (31).
Security sources based in the east said followers of Rauf Mowlavi attacked the orthodox Irumbu Thaikka Mosque on Monday night. "It was a revenge attack," a senior policeman said. "They were responding to the previous night’s attack on their Sufi Mosque also in Kattankudy," he said, adding that over a dozen houses and business establishments were targeted. Monday’s attack wounded 18 persons. Some of the wounded had been admitted to the Batticaloa government hospital.
Rival groups set fire to the Badoorya Rahumania and Eibrahim Mosques during the clashes.
The sources said that a policeman had been shot at and wounded by a rampaging mob.
The sources said Rauf Mowlavi had a hardcore following of about 3,000. The sources said Mowlavi Rauf had challenged the Jammiyathul Ulema, Kattankudy. "This led to a lot of friction and now violence was threatening the entire community," the sources said.
