Chennai: Sri Lankan pilgrims traveling in buses were targeted twice today by protesters in Tamil Nadu.
The convoy of five buses was headed to the Trichy airport to board a special flight home, when a mob pelted stones and smashed their windows.
Police have however said that no one was injured in the attack and that all pilgrims have reached the airport. (Sri Lankan pilgrims attacked in Tamil Nadu: 10 developments)
"We got reports that some people followed the pilgrims group, intimidated, abused and even attacked them with stones," Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner RKMA Rajakaruna told the Press Trust of India.
Yesterday, Sri Lanka issued a travel advisory asking its citizens not to visit Tamil Nadu until further notice in the wake of "increasing number of instances of intimidation" of Sri Lankans in the state. India's Foreign Affairs Ministry said this afternoon - even as news of the vandalised buses came in- that it had consulted the state government and "will continue to take all measures to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Sri Lankan dignitaries and visitors to India, including to Tamil Nadu."
Like her party, opposition members including the DMK, which is a member of the ruling coalition at the Centre, have attacked the union government for allowing Sri Lankan defence personnel to be trained in India. DMK chief M Karunanidhi also objected today to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's visit to India. "It is not acceptable to us that he who is responsible for the killing of lakhs of Tamils is accorded a special welcome" in India, he said.
(Sri Lankan President's visit not acceptable: Karunanidhi)
(With Inputs from PTI)
The convoy of five buses was headed to the Trichy airport to board a special flight home, when a mob pelted stones and smashed their windows.
Police have however said that no one was injured in the attack and that all pilgrims have reached the airport. (Sri Lankan pilgrims attacked in Tamil Nadu: 10 developments)
"We got reports that some people followed the pilgrims group, intimidated, abused and even attacked them with stones," Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner RKMA Rajakaruna told the Press Trust of India.
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Yesterday, Sri Lanka issued a travel advisory asking its citizens not to visit Tamil Nadu until further notice in the wake of "increasing number of instances of intimidation" of Sri Lankans in the state. India's Foreign Affairs Ministry said this afternoon - even as news of the vandalised buses came in- that it had consulted the state government and "will continue to take all measures to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Sri Lankan dignitaries and visitors to India, including to Tamil Nadu."
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Like her party, opposition members including the DMK, which is a member of the ruling coalition at the Centre, have attacked the union government for allowing Sri Lankan defence personnel to be trained in India. DMK chief M Karunanidhi also objected today to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's visit to India. "It is not acceptable to us that he who is responsible for the killing of lakhs of Tamils is accorded a special welcome" in India, he said.
(Sri Lankan President's visit not acceptable: Karunanidhi)
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(With Inputs from PTI)
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