MULLATTIVU: AT least seventeen trapped civilians in the PUTHUMATHALAN “No Fire Zone” (NFZ) were killed and over two hundred injured when three LTTE suicide bombers rammed into civilian gatherings and blew themselves up inside the NFZ Monday (20) between 9.00 a.m.-1.00 p.m.
Tiger terrorists turned awfully wild and hysterical by Monday (20) early hours as the numbers of civilians deserting them and entering cleared areas swelled almost hour by hour beginning the wee small hours on Monday (20) while bringing the total number that has so far reported to the cleared areas rose to almost 19,000. The sudden exodus was a direct result of the Army’s entry into the NFZ after capturing some 3 km-long earth bund built by Tigers to prevent troops from entering the NFZ late last night (19). (See Separate Situation Report).
Troops accepted this number for today (20), though the escapees waiting in line in the NFZ to enter cleared areas were reportedly much higher than the numbers that have shown up until now in the past 24 hours.
Tiger terrorists using their last strategies and gimmicks were trying hard to trick those fleeing civilians after firing mortars and heavy artillery towards them as they were crossing the “No Fire Zone”, but the flow of civilian traffic did not mind LTTE threats any longer.
According to escapees, Tiger suicide bombers in three different places in the NFZ, close to one another where civilians were gathering en masse planning to leave, have rammed the crowd and detonated themselves killing scores of civilians.
“Tigers wanted us to turn back and remain with them further but we do not see any meaning to it since almost everybody except Tigers and LTTE Mahaveerar families has left the area”, one of the escapees has reportedly told the ground troops. The injured have been brought to cleared areas and were being referred for medical treatment as this report was pasted.
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