Nachchikuda regained

Second major blow to LTTE in 24 hours:

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Nachchikuda: The troops of Task Force I or the famously known 58 Division now in the western edge of the Kilinochchi district yesterday passed yet another milestone in their march towards Pooneryn completely capturing Nachchikuda the last stronghold of the LTTE on the Western coast before Pooneryn by last evening, Military sources announced yesterday.

“With the capture of Nachchikuda the LTTE is left with only Pooneryn on the Western coast as the rest of the area between Nachchikuda and Pooneryn is covered with jungle patches,” commander of the Task Force I or the 58 Division, Brigadier Shavendra Silva told the Daily News.

The LTTE faced two consecutive blows within 24 hours on the western edge of the Kilinochchi district as they lost two strategically important villages Jeyapuram and Nachchikuda, he said. The troops of the Task Force I or the 58 Division completely captured the 15 Km long LTTE defence line in the form of a massive earth bund surrounding the Nachchikuda fishing village.

“The LTTE strongly held Nachchikuda with the construction of this massive earth bund giving depth to Pooneryn the last township left with the LTTE on the Western coast. With the loss of Nachchikuda the LTTE will have to resort to the Eastern coast for their logistics supplies,” the Brigadier added.

The capture of Nachchikuda is a major victory for the troops operating in the Kilinochchi front as they are now entering jungle areas between the Nachchikuda and Pooneryn.

For the past two to three months the LTTE strongly held this area as they had links with Vallaipadu the LTTE’s unloading point on the Western coast to depend on their supplies despite losing areas west of Nachchikuda to the troops.

“The LTTE vacated Nachchikuda in face of the troops advance into the village from all directions with the fall of their 15 Km long defence line surrounding Nachchikuda and with the fall of Jeyapuram village to the Security Forces on Thursday afternoon.

With the capture of entire Nachchikuda troops are now controlling upto the 12th mile post on the Mannar-Pooneryn A-32 road which is short of only 14 to 16 Km to Pooneryn.

The capture of Nachchikuda is also important during this period in which the North East monsoonal rains are lashing the area as this provides easy access roads to the troops operating on the western edge of the Kilinochchi district. They are now using supply routes constructed by the Army itself.