Kattankudy, in the Eastern Province, was under police curfew Monday night (1) after two Muslim groups clashed. Fifteen persons were injured when bombs were hurled by the rival groups.
Twelve of the injured were admitted to the Batticaloa hospital and the condition of one was serious, H. M. C. Herath, OIC Kattankudy police station said.
Trouble broke out when a group had hurled bombs at people who were taking part in the evening prayers in a Mosque opposite the main road at Kattankudy. The trouble seems to have erupted over a Mosque built at Kattankudy by a group of Muslims from Maradamune. The rival groups, said to be in their thousands, had started looking for their adversaries and attacked a large number of persons, destroyed homes and shops. The local police being unable to bring the situation undercontrol, reinsforcements from other police stations in the area had to be brought in to quell the situation, police said.
A police constable was also injured in the crossfire between the two factions.
Senior police sources said the Army and Police were able to talk to the leaders of the rival Muslim groups and bring about a settlement and the leaders have agreed to maintain peace in the area.
