Security Forces enter Iranapalai

RANIL WIJAYAPALA

*LTTE’s last operational centre

*LTTE Court complex captured

The Security Forces who are now on the final leg of their battle against the LTTE has entered the outskirts of Iranapalai, the last operational centre of the top rung Tiger leaders including Intelligence Wing leader Pottu Amman with the troops clearing the last section of the buildup area in Puthkuduyiruppu East by yesterday evening.

Military sources in the battlefront told the Daily News that the 58 Division under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva was in the process of clearing the last section of buildings in the Puthukuduyiruppu East yesterday with the capture of LTTE’s last Court complex in Puthukuduyiruppu East.

“After completing their mission in Puthukuduyiruppu East the 20 Gajaba Regiment yesterday entered into the highly fortified Iranapalai, the LTTE’s last operational centre amidst fierce battles”, the sources added.

The ground troops found that Iranapalai, which had been the hideout of the LTTE Intelligence Wing leader Pottu Amman for decades was strongly held by the LTTE constructing massive earth bunds.

The LTTE had maintained Iranapalai as their main operational centre with many of their top rung leaders including Sea Tiger Wing leader Soosai handling Sea Tiger operations making his base there in Iranapalai making that area out of bound for the civilians. Military intelligence sources have also confirmed the presence of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran frequently in this area recently.

The 58 Division yesterday captured the Court complex of the LTTE in Puthukudiyiruppu which may be the last Court maintained by the LTTE to keep the Tamil civilian population under their law.

With troops reaching the last terrain under the LTTE once again exodus of civilians started to flow into military controlled areas both from the North and South of Puthukudiyiruppu.

”Yesterday 904 civilians arrived in the 58 Division area alone and hundreds of civilians arriving in the South of Puthukudiyiruppu and towards Jaffna by boats”, the sources added.

Military officials had observed that a considerable number of disabled civilians arriving in military controlled areas mingling with these civilians arousing suspicion that they might be disabled Tiger cadres who had distanced from the military operations due to their disability.

Meanwhile, 58 Division troops have also reached some 400 metres closer to the Safe Zone in Puthumattalan where thousands of civilians had taken refuge.