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Puthukudiyiruppu:
LTTE last bastion falls
Tigers retreat to No-Fire Zone:
Ranil Wijayapala
The LTTE yesterday lost its final stronghold Puthukudiyiruppu and
several top rung leaders including Theepan, Vidusha, Durga, Gadafi and
Nagulesh compelling Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to seek refuge
in the Safe Zone mingling with the civilians along with remaining top
rung leaders Pottu Amman, Soosai and Velavan, military sources told the
Daily News yesterday.
The last stronghold of the LTTE fell to the hands of the Security
Forces following the 58 Division under the command of Brigadier
Shavendra Silva, 53 Division under the command of Major General Kamal
Gunaratne and Task Force VIII under the command of Colonel G.V.
Ravipriya ended the long siege on the last square km held by the LTTE by
yesterday morning.
According to military officials the LTTE�s Northern leader Theepan,
LTTE female Leader Vidusha and her deputy Durgha, Batticaloa leader
Nagulesh were confirmed killed and Military Wing leader Bhanu was
critically injured in the fierce battles that raged during the past few
days.
Theepan is the most senior military leader to be killed in the
battlefront and his body was recovered by the 6 Gajaba Regiment troops
attached to the 53 Division a senior Military official added.
The LTTE leader is now left with only his Intelligence Wing leader
Pottu Amman, Sea Tiger leader Soosai and another top rung Sea Tiger
leader Velavan to command the battle against the Security Forces, a
senior military officials told the Daily News.
It has now been confirmed that the Tiger leader Velupillai
Prabhakaran also had a narrow escape as he had fled the area a day
before the troops encircled the last terrain held by the LTTE. Massive
stocks of arms and ammunition including three 130 mm heavy artillery
guns, one 80 mm mortar launcher and 30 mm canon were among the
recoveries by the Security Forces.
The 58 Division and the 53 Division along with the Task Force VIII
encircled the last terrain held by the LTTE in Puthukudiyiruppu on
Wednesday along with more than 200 Tiger cadres.
The 58 Division and the 53 Division encircled the area after 53
Division troops led by Major General Kamal Gunaratne moving from the
South to North direction and 58 Division led by Brigadier Shavendra
Silva moving from the North to South direction linked up in the south of
Pachchapulmudai junction.
The LTTE tried to pose a major threat to the advancing Security
Forces bringing their heavy artillery weapons to the battlefront to fire
directly at the troops.
But troops could avert all their efforts by encircling the area in an
unexpected moment, General Officer Commanding of the 58 Division
Brigadier Shavendra Silva told the Daily News.
The LTTE never expected this sudden move by the 53 and 58 Divisions
which has enabled the troops kill many senior leaders such as Theepan
who commanded the Tiger cadres in the Northern front who was the
architect of the bund defence system of the LTTE,General Officer
Commanding of the 53 Division major General Kamal Gunaratne said. During
the search operations conducted by the 53 Division and 58 Division
troops recovered the luxury bullet-proof limousine of Tiger leader
Velupillai Prabhakaran and important personal documents belonging to
Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran�s son and daughter from the Tiger
bases captured.
Puthukudiyiruppu and Iranapalai were the last strongholds held by the
LTTE and the toughest battle in the Vanni liberation operation was
fought in Puthukudiyiruppu as it turned out to be a do or die battle for
the LTTE.
This was the first time the Security Forces has taken full control of
Puthukudiyiruppu during the three decade long conflict in the North
East.
Troops are now poised to encircle the Safe Zone with the objective of
rescuing the civilian population detained by the LTTE there. |
