Navy captures Soosai’s fleeing family

Rafik JALALDEEN

The Navy captured Sea Tiger leader Soosai’s family members while they were attempting to escape by sea in Mullaitivu area during the wee hours of yesterday.

Soosai is with LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, Soosai’s wife has said. Navy spokesman Captain D.K.P. Dassanayake said the Sea Tiger leader’s wife, son, daughter and his brother’s wife, daughter and other family members were attempting to escape from Vellaimullivaikkal.

The Fibre Glass Dinghy had 11 persons including Soosai’s wife Sathyadevi, daughter Sivanesan Mani Arasu, son Sivanesan Sindhu, sister-in-law C. Thavarasa (58), elder brother’s son Silanbarasa and top Sea Tiger Leader Rooban’s wife N. Sivanesan (25).

They were captured around 2.00 a.m. by naval troops monitoring the LTTE movements in the seas off Mullaitivu.

Eleven family members of Soosai were fleeing boarded on a small boat posing as IDPs.

The naval troops identified Soosai’s family members and captured the boat. “An LTTE Intelligence leader’s family members were among the captured”, he added.

The captured Soosai’s family members boat was towed to Pulmodai Naval point.

An inquiry was started upon their capture.

”The fleeing Soosai’s family members had around Rs.600,000, in cash jewellery weighing two and half kilograms and other valuable items”, Captain Dassanayake said.

He said during the inquiry Soosai’s wife had said that her husband Soosai is with Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman in the Vellaimullivaikkal area.

Round-the-clock vigilance maintained by alert Naval troops on continuous Naval patrol to monitor LTTE movements in the seas off Mullaitivu have made impossible for Tiger cadres or their family members to escape.

Naval fortifications have been tightened with multiple defence barriers consisting of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), Fast Gun Boats (FGBs), Fast Attack Craft (FACs), the Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) and the Special Boat Squadron (SBS).

Continuous shore-based radar surveillance is also being carried out in order to compliment Naval units to prevent remaining LTTE cadres from launching desperate attacks on advancing Security Forces personnel and to cut off attempts of Tiger leaders trapped in the No Fire Zone to flee.