MULLAITTIVU: THE MASS exodus of trapped civilians from the “No Fire Zone” (NFZ) at PUTHUMATHALAN took a dramatic upward turn by 1.00 p.m. Tuesday (21) afternoon, bringing the total number of escapees who have reached troops to 52,087 as more and more Tamil civilians were trudging towards the areas held by government troops for protection of their lives.
The “World’s Biggest Rescue Operation” now in full swing after valiant troops on Sunday (19) night pierced the LTTE earth bund and enabled trapped civilians to move out saw 39,820 besieged civilians reaching 58 Division troops by Tuesday (21) morning. The 55 Division troops, now closing in on for a link-up after capturing the area with the rest of surrounding troops, on their way to the northern edge of the No Fire Zone have by now rescued a total of 10,100 civilians, held hostage by Tigers inside the NFZ. Similarly, sailors in the Navy have received 2167 escapees by Tuesday (21) afternoon.
Troops entering to rescue those besieged civilians from the northern-most edge, western area as well as from the southern side of the NFZ are expected to meet one another at any moment fro now onwards taking maximum precautions to spare any damage to the PUTHUMATTALAN hospital in the NFZ.
Troops during Sunday (19) night thrust into the NFZ and battled out hard against terrorists operating by the side of their broken earth bund and inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists who finally retreated. By Tuesday (21), troops wading further into the NFZ were able to collect 13 dead Tigers who had been left behind by retreating Tigers. It is believed at least 2-3 dozens of terrorists were killed or badly injured during the night time fighting on Sunday (19).
Remaining Tiger terrorists, including the world’s most ruthless terrorist leader, VELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN in the past 36 hours adopted all possible strategies and mean tricks to prevent civilians from deserting the NFZ, but to no avail. Tigers used a battle tank, possibly the one and only remaining with them to block the passage of escaping civilians. Notwithstanding, three Tiger suicide bombers blasted themselves at about 7.30 Monday (20) morning as the stream of escapees tickling out from the NFZ. Likewise, terrorists went on threatening massive civilian gatherings who were on their way with gunshot injuries, but the flow was not deterred.
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