Coconut shell claymore found

The Naval patrol yesterday detected a claymore placed inside a coconut shell in Eluthur, Mannar, Navy spokesman Commander D.P.K. Dassanayake said.

"The claymore mine was carefully concealed inside a coconut and laid beside the road targeting the Navy foot patrol and civilians. Sailors detected the claymore inside the coconut shell," he said

In another incident, the LTTE triggered off a claymore mine targeting a Naval patrol in Pallimunai, Mannar last morning. A sailor was injured, Commander Dassanayake said. Meanwhile, Navy arrested two LTTE extortionists while demanding money from an ice cream shop vendor at Hospital junction, Trincomalee on Thursday.

Naval troops arrested two LTTE ransom collectors while they were clandestinely collecting money from a small scale ice cream businessman in Trincomalee known as Cream House, Commander Dassanayake said.

He said LTTE agents demanded Rs. 300,000 from the businessman and they were on the way to collect the initial payment of Rs.75,000 from the businessman when they were arrested by Naval troops. "A motorcycle and two mobile phones were taken from the suspects possession," he added.

The two LTTE suspects are detained at the Trincomalee police.

(http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/08/04/sec03.asp)