20 LTTEers killed, bunkers destroyed

Rafik Jalaldeen

JAFFNA: Twenty LTTE cadres were killed and many others injured during a confrontation with the Security Forces yesterday morning in Kilali, Jaffna, while forces also destroyed three LTTE bunkers.

A stock of fuel was also recovered in another incident in Mannar, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

He said a group of armed LTTE cadres who were attempting to infiltrate the Kilali Forward Defence Line was obstructed by the Security Forces. In the firing 20 Tiger cadres were killed and several others injured. The incident ocourred at around 5.30 a.m. "LTTE communication Intercepts confirmed the death of 20 Tiger cadres. "We also saw many Tiger cadres fall to the ground in the retaliatory fire," Brigadier Nanayakkara said.

According to Brigadier Nanayakkara the Security Forces also destroyed three LTTE bunkers and successfully repulsed a small mortar attack.

Following the incident troops recovered three T56 assault riffles and an Intercom radio communication set.

A soldier was killed and five others injured in the incident.

In a separate incident, a navy foot patrol during a search operation recovered a large stock of fuel hidden in a thicket along the shore of Puthikudiyiruppu, Pesalai area in Mannar yesterday at around 2.00 a.m.

The Navy patrol recovered 5,040 litres of diesel concealed in 24 barrels, each barrel containing 210 litres, 275kgs of Plaster of Paris and two boxes of medical items.

"We suspect that the LTTE cadres were hiding these items to transport to Vedithaltivu," the Brigadier added.