Fierce battle in Puthukudiyiruppu

Rafik JALALDEEN

Troops entered the LTTE’s last bastion Puthuku-diyiruppu township last Tuesday following a fierce battle. They captured one of the LTTE’s cache of weapons and a highly fortified camp. LTTE territory in Mullaitivu is now confined to a mere 66 square kilometres.

Task Force IV advancing from west of Puthukudiyiruppu area crushed Tiger cadres’ resistance inflicting heavy damages to the Tigers. “Troops captured a highly fortified camp and a massive arms and ammunition cache on Tuesday around 4.30 pm,” Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

“This was the first time troops unearthed such a large stock of arms and ammunition at one place during the Vanni operations,” he told the Daily News.

In a subsequent search operation, troops found 45 of 80mm mortar barrels, 15 of 80mm bi-pods, 32 base plates, 14 of 60mm mortar launchers, 43 of 60mm mortar barrels, 25 of 2” commando mortar barrels, three 120 mm artillery barrels, three .50 weapons, a Carl Gustave (RL) weapon and a large stock of T-56, T-81 and 303 riffles.

According to defence sources, the Puthukudiyiruppu township was surrounded by troops from the northeastern edge to south on Tuesday evening. “The LTTE is confined to a mere 60 square in the Mullaitivu jungle,” sources added.

Meanwhile, troops of the 58 division advancing from the west and northwest of Puthukidiyiruppu launched heavy fighting against the LTTE on Tuesday. The Tigers fled the area leaving bodies, arms and vehicles.

Brigadier Nanayakkara said troops recovered eight LTTE bodies, 14 T56 assault riffles, an I-com set, an RPG, a claymore mine and three backhoe machines.