LTTE weapons cache seized from Sampur

Rafik JALALDEEN

COLOMBO: The Army recovered a haul of weapons used by LTTE cadres during the confrontation with the security forces in Sampur.

The troops confirmed the cache consisted of 61 120mm high explosive mortar bombs, 715 rounds of T56 ammunition, 19 improvised "jumping" mine timing fuses, 150 12.7 live rounds, 3.5 metres of detonating cord, 16 82mm mortar fuses, 180 live rounds of MPMG ammunition and 19 60mm mortar cartridges.

Sampur fell to the Security Forces on August 31. The fighting lasted for one week and Sampur town is still full of landmines and booby traps, a spokesman from the Media Centre for the National Security said.

According to the MCNS spokesman the Security Forces and police were totally deployed in the Sampur town after the fighting to clear the landmines and booby traps planted by the LTTE terrorists.

The Security Forces have set up camps in the coastal areas of Sampur and its surrounding areas, the MCNS spokesman pointed out. Presently the Sampur town is under STF control, he added.

The mission of the Security Forces and police is clearing the Sampur town of landmines and resettling civilians, the MCNS spokesman said.

During the search mission the Forces recovered a large number of deadly weapons on Thursday. After anther cordon and search operation the Army recovered a haul of weapons yesterday morning, he said.