Claymore mines detected in Mannar, Kalmunai

by Ananth Palakidnar

Two powerful claymore mines have been found on a tree near the residence of Mannar Bishop Rt. Rev Dr. Rayappu Joseph yesterday.

Military sources said a group of Navy men on a foot patrol had found the two claymore mines tied to a tree near Bishop Joseph's residence in Mannar.

The Navy men found the claymore mines following the increase in patrolling in recent days after the massive claymore explosions which killed more than 20 soldiers in the North in the past weeks, sources said.

Two other LTTE claymore mines were also found by a police route patrol team in Parayanankulam on the road to the Madhu shrine yesterday, sources said.

STF troops on route clearance duties detected a claymore mine on the Sorikalmunai-Kalmunai road yesterday.

They initially detected a long wire on the side of the road and later, the side charger. The LTTE had selected an isolated and abandoned work site of the Ceylon Electricity Board to plant the mine.

In a separate incident at the 216th milepost on the Akkaraipattu - Potuvil highway, STF troops were fired upon by the LTTE. The troops retaliated and repulsed the attack. The attack had come from the direction of Kanjikudichchiaru jungles. A subsequent search had revealed that the LTTE had withdrawn to Kanjikudichchiaru.

Meanwhile, Army Commander Lt.Gen Sarath Fonseka was in Jaffna yesterday to make an assessment of the current situation in the North.

General Fonseka who was Northern Commander a few years ago had convened the brigade commanders in the Peninsula and had discussions on stabilising the security in the North, sources said.

This is the second visit to the North by Gen. Fonseka since he became the Army commander early this month.