Troops regain Palavi
Over 30 Tigers killed as soldiers capture another
defence line:
Ranil Wijayapala
KILINOCHCHI: Troops of the 58 Division yesterday made another
breakthrough in their march towards Pooneryn after capturing the
Valayakudiyurippumoddai defence line strongly held by the LTTE for the
past few days, killing over 30 Tiger cadres and capturing five Tiger
bodies.
This came hours after they dominated the Palavi fishing village in
the west of Mannar-Pooneryn A-32 road, military sources told the Daily
News last night.
According to military sources heavy fighting erupted in the
Valayakudiyurippumoodai defence line located some four Kilometres East
of Chempangundu on the A-32 road as troops in an unexpected move crossed
a huge open terrain at an unexpected moment in the early hours of
yesterday.
“Heavy fighting continued there for hours until troops fully captured
the area killing over 30 Tiger cadres,” a senior military official told
the Daily News. The Tiger cadres operating there strongly held this
defence line located four and half kilometres east of A-32 road and five
kilometres south of Pooneryn-Paranthan road as it paves the way for the
troops to advance towards Pooneryn and also towards the vital Pooneryn
Paranthan road which is the northernmost supply route linking the
Western coast to the A-9 road.
As of yesterday troops of the 58 Division were operating within the
striking distance of the Pooneryn Paranthan road and facing stiff
resistance from the LTTE who are strongly holding these areas inducting
their elite cadres.
Hours before the capture of this defence line the 58 Division
operating in the Western edge of the Kilinochchi district dominated the
Palavi fishing village the last fishing village before Pooneryn on the
Western coast of the country.
Earlier on Monday troops dominated Kiranchi which has been used by
the LTTE as one of their unloading points on the Western coast after
they lost control of the Viddathalthivu Sea Tiger Base.
Palavi is located some six and half Kilometres West of the 8th Mile
Post on the A-32 road.
With the capture of Palavi LTTE the is left with only Valaipadu and
Devil’s Point on the Western coast as their unloading points in the
Western coast before Pooneryn, the northern most township on the Western
coast.
“Dominating Palavi is strategically important as this will cut off
the LTTE’s main access route running parallel to the coastal border from
Veravil to Chempangundu”, a senior Army official said.
Meanwhile, troops operating south of Kilinochchi also confronted the
LTTE killing over seven Tiger cadres after capturing a few of the
bunkers in the southern edge of Kilinochchi.
“The troops of the 57 Division have reached so close to Kilinochchi
they can see highrise buildings in Kilinochchi town,” a senior military
official said.
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