29 dead in Lanka clashes; six L.T.T.E. boats destroyed

T.V. Sriram

Colombo, Nov 1 (PTI) At least 29 Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.) militants, including 14 sea Tigers,
were killed Saturday in fierce clashes with the Sri Lankan
Navy off the northern coast of the island nation during which
six rebel boats were also destroyed, two of them by the
fighter jets giving cover to the navy.

"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 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.

Meanwhile in the ground clashes, troops of Task Force 1
engaged in continuing offencive in west of Kilinochchi have
captured two kilometre L.T.T.E. trench line in general area
Paddaruyalvillu, six km northeast of Madam Saturday morning,
the Defence Ministry said.

Troops advanced further northwards capturing L.T.T.E.
dominated areas as the L.T.T.E. cadres were unable to hold
their terrain with effective military thrust given by the
troops.

Hours long fighting ensued in the area inflicting heavy
damages to the enemy, the ministry said, adding defence
sources confirmed intercepting L.T.T.E. communication
channels.

In a subsequent search operation conducted in the area
immediately following the offencive, troops found 15 L.T.T.E.
bodies with two of them in a decomposed state, it said.

Thirteen T-56 assault riffles and an I-Com set were also
recovered in the search operation.

Monitoring of the L.T.T.E. communication has revealed
their casualty figures, the Navy said, adding five naval
personnel also sustained injuries in the incident.

L.T.T.E. fighters fired towards the Forward Defence Lines
in Muhamale in Jaffna peninsula Friday, the army said.

"Troops retaliated the attack using heavy weapons and
neutralised the enemy fire," it said, adding no casualties
were reported to the troops.

In fierce fighting in Kilinochchi and north-eastern
Welioya, troops inflicted damages to the L.T.T.E., 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 Friday.

The army said troops captured one tiger bunker in east of
Akkarayankulam and two in Andankulam.

"Many L.T.T.E. cadres were reported killed and several
others injured during the confrontations with troops
throughout yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security
(M.C.N.S.) said. PTI TVS
PMR
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