By Camelia Nathaniel
Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya vehemently denied allegations that Army personnel allegedly carrying out an attack against a priest at a Hindu kovil when he attempted to stop the army personnel forcibly entering the kovil with their boots.
This alleged attack is alleged to have been carried out on Monday at the Ellankulam Aaathiparashkathi kovil in Vadamarachchie.
The military spokesman said the army personnel had been playing cricket in the vicinity and as the ball had gone into the kovil premises, they had entered the kovil premises to collect the ball. However, the priest had then verbally abused the army personnel, and the army personnel had told the priest that they had not entered the temple with shoes on. An exchange of words had taken place, but there were no assaults, added Brigadier Wanigasuriya.
However, the priest alleges that the army personnel use the temple premises as a play ground. Since he was conducting prayers at the time he had warned them not to enter the premises with their shoes on. Several hours later the Army commander of the area and several other Army personnel have arrived at the kovil and made threats and carried out an attack against him, alleged the priest.
The Walwettithurai police are conducting further investigations into this incident.
