Aerial bombing on a settlement bordering the Vallipunam Kanista Vidhyalayam School on 30 October at 9.30am killed a fourteen year old boy and injured six more civilians. More importantly, the bombing took place while the school was in session and close 1000 children who were at school were immediately sent home. The school roll at this time had swelled to 2000 due to large scale displacement and the school was running two sessions to cope with the numbers. Just 200 meters from the school was the Senthalir Children’s Home caring for 190 children. Several pieces of shrapnel also fell in the land of this home, one just behind the children’s hostel, one in front of the children’s dining room and one on the well used by the children. It was sheer luck none of the children were hurt on this occasion.
Three months after this attack, and following frequent shell explosions near it, this children’s home displaced to Suthanthirapuram in February 2009. In their new location a child belonging to this children’s home was killed and three more were injured in shelling attack.
Names of victims (name, age)
1. Selvarasa Satheeswaran, 15
