LTTE artillery attack on Murunkan hospital

Ranil Wijayapala and Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: A tense situation prevailed in Murunkan in Mannar yesterday as LTTE directed 120 mm artillery fire at the Murunkan hospital causing heavy damage to a hospital building yesterday morning, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily News.

According to the Military Spokesman, one 120 mm artillery round fell on the hospital building at 6.20 a.m. yesterday compelling patients to flee the hospital in search of cover.

"No casualties were reported from the incident," the Brigadier added.

"It would have turned into a major tragedy if pregnant women who were scheduled to attend the maternity clinic organised by the hospital authorities yesterday were present at the location," the Brigadier added.

However, Security Forces and Police took prompt action to evacuate the patients into safer areas since their lives were under threat due to these artillery fires, an Army official in Mannar told the Daily News.

"The LTTE's intention is to create panic among the public and take cover of this situation to stop offensive operations against them," he added.

The LTTE artillery fire was directed at the hospital as a Tiger bunkerline in Pikkulam area in the East of Palakkuli came under a fierce attack of the Security Forces early yesterday.

Intense damage was reported to the LTTE during the confrontation with 21 Tiger cadres reportedly killed during the confrontation.

"The ground troops through intercepted radio transmissions got confirmation that 21 Tiger cadres were killed during this confrontation," a senior Army official added. Twelve soldiers were injured during the confrontation in East of Palakkuli.

"The LTTE fired artillery at civilian targets in Murunkan once their Forward defences were badly damaged at the hand of the Security Forces," the official added. According to Military officials causing damage to public property and religious places has become the latest tactic of the LTTE in the backdrop of humiliating defeats they are facing in the Wanni battlefront.

"The LTTE continued to direct mortar fire at the advancing troops in the Madhu front taking the cover of the Madhu No Fire Zone area with the intention of causing damage to the Madhu Church and bring disrepute to the Security Forces," he added.

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LTTE directs mortars towards Madhu Church

Madhu: Catholic priests at Madhu Church had confirmed yesterday that LTTE had directed mortar fire to the Church premises twice yesterday, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily News.

"No casualties were reported from the incidents", the Brigadier added.

"The catholic priests confirmed that LTTE mortar fell on to the Mission House on Wednesday around 5.30 p.m," the Brigadier added. "The intention of the LTTE is to evict the priests at the Madhu Church and cause damage to the sacred Madhu Church premises to tarnish the image of the Security Forces," the Brigadier added.

The LTTE continued to take the 'No Fire Zone' in Madhu as a cover to direct mortar fire at the advancing troops now consolidating their position in the south and north of Madhu.