Forces seize weapons haul

Rafik Jalaldeen

TRINCOMALEE: Security Forces seized a weapons cache during a search and clear operation in Ichchalampattu, north of Verugal in the Vakarai area last morning, the Media Centre for the National Security said.

According to a spokesman for MCNS, the search and clear operations were conducted by the Security Forces as a preliminary measure to resettle thousands of displaced people fleeing LTTE violence in the East during the recent past.

Troops recovered 102 T-56 assault rifles, 62 communication sets and two 81mm complete mortars in Ichchalampattu.

According to the MCNS troops also recovered a haul of weapons and communication sets on Wednesday from the same area in Trincomalee.

Altogether the army has recovered two 152mm artillery guns, five 120mm mortars, six 81mm mortars, 574 T-56 small arms, two suicide boats, 71 claymore mines, 13 machine guns, 34 high powered radio sets, 62 ICOM radio sets and large stocks of explosives, anti personnel mines and ammunition during the search and clear operations in the Vakarai area.