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Tractor blown up, three killed in Wilpattu landmine blast
By Athula Bandara - Anuradhapura
Three people died after the tractor they were travelling in was blown up by a land mine in the Villachchiya-Mannar Road on the outskirts of Wilpattu National Park last Tuesday.

D.B. Appuhamy (52), his son Eranda Udaya (20) and the driver Nimal Munasinghe (38) of Yaya - 6, Villachchiya, succumbed to their injuries. The villagers started using the road which is a short-cut to Mannar from Anuradhapura, four months ago.

The victim, Appuhamy, a retail businessman had been a regular traveller on this road. He had been transporting vegetables and fruits to Silawaturai. The incident was reported to Police by some of his relatives who had gone in search of them and had found them dead.

Murunkan Police with Mannar Magistrate N.M. Abdullah and SLMM officials had visited the site on Friday. Although Police suspect the LTTE to have laid the mine, residents of the area suspect illegal timber dealers could have placed it, as people passing the area were a hindrance to their activities.

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