Thursday, May 1, 2008

Troops advance amid heavy artillery fire; heavy casualties to LTTE in yesterday's clashes

According to the recapitulated military reports received from battlefronts troops had achieved several important victories over the terrorists in yesterday's (April 30) clashes. Also, a significant change in LTTE's response to the military onslaught was observed yesterday as the terrorists started to fire large number of heavy artillery towards the army forward defence lines (FDLs).

In the Jaffna theatre of battle, troops engaged LTTE bunkers from Muhamalai, Kilaly and Nagarkovil frontiers using small arms, rocket propeller grenades and mortars at several occasions. Ground troops claimed at least 7 LTTE cadres were killed or wounded during these clashes. Also, snipers deployed on the Muhamalai front claimed one terrorist was killed.

On the Wanni theatre of battle, troops advanced from all three frontiers, i.e. Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya, amid heavy artillery barrages and battling against anti personal mines and booby traps.

On the Vavuniya front, troops had several clashes with the terrorists in Palampiddi and Valliyappalai areas throughout the day and claimed 8 terrorists were killed and at least 2 others wounded. Further, one soldier was killed 9 others suffered injuries due to anti personal mine explosions and improvised bomb explosions while advancing into the LTTE dominated areas in the Muttiramadittakulam, Palampiddy, Kallikkulam , and, Palaimoddai areas. Two more soldiers were killed and another suffered injuries due to a pressure mine explosion in the Panichchakkulam area last evening.

Day's most fierce clashes occurred when Army infantrymen on the Mannar front marched in to the terror defences in the Veppankulama area and pushed own defences about 1.5 km into the terror dominated territory. In daylong clashes occurred in the area troops captured terror based named "Selvi". Radio transmissions among LTTE units revealed that 26 LTTE cadres were killed and 18 others wounded in this incident. Also, 8 soldiers suffered injuries. Separately, snipers deployed in the Veddayamurippu area claimed to have killed 2 terrorists on the same day evening. Four soldiers suffered injuries due to terror mortar fire while consolidating their defences in the Karunkandal area.

On the Welioya front, troops marching into the Mullaittivu LTTE heartland came across heavy artillery fire that prevailed from morning to evening. Troops also retaliated to the attack using heavy artillery and rockets. 4 soldiers were killed and another injured due to terror artillery fire directed at the North of Janakapura. Another soldier suffered injuries due to improvised bomb explosion in the same area. Monitored radio transmissions among LTTE units confirmed 2 LTTE cadres were killed and 16 others injured in the army retaliatory fire. Meanwhile, troops engaged in clearing operations removed 127 anti personal mines .

Limited operations are continuing.



Related News:

Pressure mine explosion kills two soldiers

LTTE's "18 Base" falls to troops; 42 terrorists killed, 38 wounded - Mannar

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