ID :
27981
Sun, 11/02/2008 - 19:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/27981
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14 Sea Tigers killed in Lanka
T.V. Sriram
Colombo, Nov 1 (PTI) At least 14 Tamil Tigers were killed
and 16 others injured Saturday in a fierce sea battle with the
Sri Lankan Navy off the northern coast of the island nation
during which four rebel vessels were also destroyed.
"An attempt by a flotilla of Tiger boats to attack naval
personnel on duty in the sea between Nagarkovil and Point
Pedro was thwarted when sailors engaged the enemy boats
destroying at least four of them and killing ... 14 Tigers
early this morning," the Defence Ministry said.
The sea battle started when the sailors spotted a fleet
of suspicious boats. The Navy Fast Attack Craft then
identified the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.)
vessels, probably laden with explosives in order to carry out
a clandestine terrorist operation, officials said.
Sri Lankan Navy's elite Special Boat Squadron (S.B.S.)
and Rapid Action Boat Squadron (R.A.B.S.) destroyed four
L.T.T.E. vessels, killing 14 rebels, including seven L.T.T.E.
suicide cadres, in the northern sea off Nagarkovil, the navy
said.
The S.B.S. and R.A.B.S. personnel opened heavy fire after
intercepting L.T.T.E. boats, immobilising their fleeing
attempt.
Sixteen L.T.T.E. sea Tigers were also wounded in the
clash, the navy said, adding five sailors sustained injuries
too.
Officials said that at least five senior sea Tigers were
among the dead rebels.
Giving cover fire to the navy, Air Force fighter jets
destroyed another two L.T.T.E. boats at the landing point in
Championpattu and Point Pedro in Jaffna.
Pilots confirmed that the two boats were completely
destroyed in the air sortie, the Air Force said.
In ground clashes, the L.T.T.E. opened fire at the
Forward Defence Lines in Muhamale in Jaffna Friday, the army
said. "Troops retaliated the attack using heavy weapons and
neutralised the enemy fire."
In fierce fighting in the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi
and northeastern Welioya, troops inflicted heavy damage on the
L.T.T.E. Friday, the army said.
It said confrontations took place in the general area of
Akkarayankulam east, Kokavil, Nochchimunai and Madam in
Kilinochchi and Andankulam in Welioya.
The army said troops captured a Tiger bunker in the east
of Akkarayankulam and another two in Andankulam.
A search operation in the general area of Andankulam led
to the recovery of two hand grenades, 90 anti-personnel mines
and six Improvised Explosive Devices (I.E.D.s), it said.
"Many L.T.T.E. cadres were reported killed and several
others injured during the confrontations with troops
throughout Friday from 8.35 am to 4.10 pm in Andankulam," the
Media Centre for National Security (M.C.N.S.) said.
A few soldiers also sustained injuries in the
confrontations, it said.
Meanwhile police recovered five claymore mines with
remote control devices and some batteries in eastern
Batticaloa yesterday, the M.C.N.S. said. PTI TVS
PMR
NNNN
Colombo, Nov 1 (PTI) At least 14 Tamil Tigers were killed
and 16 others injured Saturday in a fierce sea battle with the
Sri Lankan Navy off the northern coast of the island nation
during which four rebel vessels were also destroyed.
"An attempt by a flotilla of Tiger boats to attack naval
personnel on duty in the sea between Nagarkovil and Point
Pedro was thwarted when sailors engaged the enemy boats
destroying at least four of them and killing ... 14 Tigers
early this morning," the Defence Ministry said.
The sea battle started when the sailors spotted a fleet
of suspicious boats. The Navy Fast Attack Craft then
identified the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.)
vessels, probably laden with explosives in order to carry out
a clandestine terrorist operation, officials said.
Sri Lankan Navy's elite Special Boat Squadron (S.B.S.)
and Rapid Action Boat Squadron (R.A.B.S.) destroyed four
L.T.T.E. vessels, killing 14 rebels, including seven L.T.T.E.
suicide cadres, in the northern sea off Nagarkovil, the navy
said.
The S.B.S. and R.A.B.S. personnel opened heavy fire after
intercepting L.T.T.E. boats, immobilising their fleeing
attempt.
Sixteen L.T.T.E. sea Tigers were also wounded in the
clash, the navy said, adding five sailors sustained injuries
too.
Officials said that at least five senior sea Tigers were
among the dead rebels.
Giving cover fire to the navy, Air Force fighter jets
destroyed another two L.T.T.E. boats at the landing point in
Championpattu and Point Pedro in Jaffna.
Pilots confirmed that the two boats were completely
destroyed in the air sortie, the Air Force said.
In ground clashes, the L.T.T.E. opened fire at the
Forward Defence Lines in Muhamale in Jaffna Friday, the army
said. "Troops retaliated the attack using heavy weapons and
neutralised the enemy fire."
In fierce fighting in the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi
and northeastern Welioya, troops inflicted heavy damage on the
L.T.T.E. Friday, the army said.
It said confrontations took place in the general area of
Akkarayankulam east, Kokavil, Nochchimunai and Madam in
Kilinochchi and Andankulam in Welioya.
The army said troops captured a Tiger bunker in the east
of Akkarayankulam and another two in Andankulam.
A search operation in the general area of Andankulam led
to the recovery of two hand grenades, 90 anti-personnel mines
and six Improvised Explosive Devices (I.E.D.s), it said.
"Many L.T.T.E. cadres were reported killed and several
others injured during the confrontations with troops
throughout Friday from 8.35 am to 4.10 pm in Andankulam," the
Media Centre for National Security (M.C.N.S.) said.
A few soldiers also sustained injuries in the
confrontations, it said.
Meanwhile police recovered five claymore mines with
remote control devices and some batteries in eastern
Batticaloa yesterday, the M.C.N.S. said. PTI TVS
PMR
NNNN
