Troops capture Ampalavanpokkani

Detected Tiger mansion deep underground:

Rafik JALALDEEN

As troops are poised to secure the LTTE last stronghold and key bastion Puthukudiyiruppu and liberate the entire Mullaitivu are they have regained another Tiger village Ampalavanpokkani yesterday afternoon after a prolonged fierce battle.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said troops of the 58 division captured Ampalavanpokkani following day and night intense fighting that erupted in the area. “The LTTE cadres fled from the area facing heavy damages and casualties”, he added.

Troops of 10 SLLI (Sri Lanka Light infantry) and 6 GW (Gamnunu Watch) entering the area on Thursday evening prolonged fierce fire and captured Ampalavanpokkani.

“The Security Forces crushed the Tiger attempt to resist advancing troops and had taken control of the area in the afternoon. Troops consolidating their position in the area launched a mopping up operation and recovered seven LTTE bodies and five T56 assault rifles”, Brigadier Nanayakkara told the Daily News.

Ampalavanpokkani is a remote village located approximately 8km north of Puthukudiyiruppu junction on the western bank of the Chalai lagoon.

Meanwhile, newly formed Task Force VIII operating under the troops of 58 division had unearthed an LTTE sophisticated underground three storeyed complex which was covered by camouflage nets west of Puthukudiyiruppu.

Brigadier Nanayakkara said TF VIII marching towards the LTTE last bastion Puthukudiyiruppu town had come across hitherto undiscovered LTTE mansion, three layers deep underground located west of Puthukudiyiruppu.

“The underground complex had been surrounded by steel plated posts. The Tiger cadres also kept watch dogs to guard the area. Troops found three secret roads leading to the deep underground complex”, Brigadier Nanayakkara told the Daily News. With the capture of Ampalavanpokkani the Security Forces are making speedy progress to liberate LTTE’s last stronghold Puthukudiyiruppu encircling its build-up.

Troops of the 58 division manoeuvering from the north of Puthukudiyiruppu dominated the Ampalavanpokkani village which is located 2km from the northern perimeter of Puthukudiyiruppu build-up.

Meanwhile, troops of the Task Force IV manoeuvering southwest of Puthukkudiyirppu established their positions 2-3 km short of the western perimeters of the Puthukudiyirppu build-up.

The newly formed Task Force VIII inducted to the battlefield south of the Puthukudiyirppu build-up also commenced moving northwards.

Puthukudiyirppu is located south of the A-35 road (Paranthan-Mullaittvu), about 35 km from Paranthan.

The build-up stretches in an area of approximately 25 square KM, out of which about 20 square KM are situated north of the A-35.