LTTE forcibly takes over Karadiyanaru hospital

Ranil Wijayapala

COLOMBO: The LTTE had taken control over the Karadiyanaru hospital forcing civilians to evacuate the hospital in preparation of a Vakarai type operation in face of the ongoing Security Forces operations to liberate the areas west of Batticaloa, Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said yesterday.

“We have received reliable information from civilians arriving in cleared areas that the LTTE had taken control over the Karadiyanaru hospital to treat injured cadres,” Brigadier Samarasinghe added.

He said Wanni cadres are now fleeing the area leaving behind the Batticaloa cadres in the Thoppigala jungles in face of the Security Forces operation to liberate the areas west of Batticaloa.

The Brigadier said more than 50 LTTE cadres including senior leaders have been killed during the past few days in Unnichchiya and Periyapullimulai on the Chenkaladi-Mahaoya road.

Eight STF and two Army personnel were also killed and 32 sustained injuries during these operations.

“The Air Force took another LTTE target in Irappaikulam in the Thoppigala jungles today at 10.15 am after receiving information about a LTTE build up in the area,” Brigadier Samarasinghe added.

The LTTE also suffered heavily as the SLAF carried out air strikes at Narakamulla in Thoppigala jungles consecutively on Monday and Tuesday.

Brigadier Samarasinghe said 10 LTTE cadres including a LTTE intelligence leader were killed in Monday’s air strike while a number of LTTE vehicles have been destroyed due to Tuesdays air strike.

He said civilians fleeing the Tiger held areas have complained that the LTTE cadres have forcibly kept their underage children but later some of the parents have rescued their children from the clutches of the LTTE.