Security Forces discover massive LTTE fuel stock

Ranil Wijayapala

As Security Forces mounting pressure on the LTTE now entrapped in the Mullaitivu jungles in a massive frontage, the 58 Division troops yesterday unearthed a massive fuel stock buried in Dharmapuram town, which has been used by the LTTE as their main administrative centre after the fall of their administrative capital Kilinochchi, Military sources told the Daily News yesterday.

”The 58 Division troops now engaged in search and clear operations in Dharampuram unearthed this fuel stock with more than 300 barrels neatly burried in a coconut grove. This is the biggest ever fuel stock captured by the troops during the Vanni liberation operation”, military sources told the Daily News.

According to military sources troops were engaged in unearthing those fuel barrels containing diesel and kerosene oil until yesterday evening. “One plastic barrel has the capacity to store 225 litres of fuel and the stock is enough even for a long period for the LTTE to continue their terror activities”, an Army official told the Daily News. “The area had been heavily mined and infested with traps to keep troops from entering the area. But troops had carefully unearthed the plastic barrels containing diesel and kerosene”, sources added.

According to military officials the LTTE would have collected this massive stock of fuel from the Non Governmental Organisations as they were the only people who had the authority to transport fuel to uncleared areas.Apart from this the 58 Division troops have also found a massive stock of food inside Dharmapuram village during the search and clear operations conducted within the past few days.

Troops also had recovered a large number of LTTE maps inside the main lecture hall in Dharmapuram which had been found by the 58 Division troops during search operations.

”We are recovering Tiger assets which could not be found in Kilinochchi”, a senior military official told the Daily News.

“There are signs that the LTTE had shifted the offices and all their assets from Kilinochchi weeks ahead of its fall as large a number of name boards which had been removed from Kilinochchi were found inside Dharmapuram as it was captured in a surprise move by the 58 Division troops after advancing 16 Km to the East of Paranthan within 15 days”, he added. Meanwhile, 59 Division troops advancing towards Mullaitivu and Puthukuduiruppu, destroyed a section of the earth bund in Chilawatta in the South of Mullaitivu and South East of Puthukuduiruppu.

The Sri Lanka Air Force carried out three air raids targeting the LTTE who were in the process of constructing earth bunds in the south of Mullaitivu.

”With these moves by the Security Forces Mullaitivu Tiger stronghold and Puthukuduiruppu are increasingly becoming under threat of the 59 Division troops”, sources added. Meanwhile, 55 Division troops who were operating in Chundikulam also recovered two explosive laden boats in the Chundikulam area.