Navy intercepts LTTE claymore group

Naval troops conducting a special operation north of Trincomalee intercepted an LTTE claymore attack group killing its leader in the Kumburuppiddi jungles in Trincomalee on Thursday around 8.15 p.m., Navy Spokesman Commander D.K.P. Dassanayaka said.

According to him the eight member group who were planning to launch a claymore attack on military and civilian movements in the 6th Mile Post area on the Trincomalee - Pulmudai road were successfully engaged by the Naval troops.

Following the attack, Naval troops recovered two bodies including the group leader along with two T 56 weapons, a micro pistol and a cellular phone in the location.

The rest had fled the area taking the injured along.

In a subsequent search and clear operation, Naval troops recovered two claymore mines, two anti-personnel mines and four detonators brought by the LTTE cadres to launch the claymore attack.

According to the Navy spokesman around 50 LTTE cadres who fled Thoppigala are suspected to be trapped in the Peraru-Kumburuppiddi jungles in Trincomalee and later formed into claymore groups to carry out claymore attacks targeting civilians and military movements in the area.

On January 24, Naval troops destroyed an LTTE hide-out in the Peraru Jungles and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition.

Troops recovered two T 56 weapons, two SMG magazines, 63 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), 64 RPG expelling charges and 6,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition during the search operation.