COLOMBO (TIP): A group of unidentified men attacked the office of a Tamil newspaper in Sri Lanka‘s former war zone on Wednesday, injuring several staffers and damaging equipment at the publication known for its government criticism. The attack is the latest in a series of assaults and threats on the staff of the Uthayan newspaper in recent years. The newspaper is published in the Tamil language spoken by the ethnic minority Tamils and is widely circulated in the island’s northern region, which was the stronghold of the Tamil Tiger rebels who fought the government during the nation’s 25-year civil war.

Publisher E Saravanapavan said the masked attackers entered the office in Kilinochchi around 4:30 am. Using poles, they assaulted the manager and staff. Three workers were hospitalized and two had minor injuries, he said.