Published on - 7/11/2008
WANNI & NORTH: AT LEAST eighteen terrorists fell dead and twenty-seven more were injured as a result of a series of major offensives triggered by advancing troops in WELIOYA, VAVUNIYA & MANNAR areas during Thursday (10).
The centre of focus was on areas north of JANAKAPURA, ULUTHUVELY and KIRIIBBANWEWA where heavy clashes inflicted death on four terrorists. Their trench lines, strongholds and some hideouts were challenged with heavy fire, followed by several search and clear operations in the day. Twenty-three terrorists according to technical sources suffered injuries in those confrontations. Six valiant soldiers received injuries fighting the enemy in those incidents.
Thirty-two anti personnel mines, four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), ten hand grenades, two magazines, 150 T-56 ammunition rounds and one field dressing were also uncovered by the troops after the clashes were over in above areas.
VAVUNIYA suburbs, having LTTE strongholds received further beatings during Thursday (10) when the troops stormed PALAMODDAI, NAVAVI, MUNDIMURIPPU, NAVATKULAM, south of APPADANKULAM, ILLANTHAIMOTAI and NADANKANDAL areas in search of Tiger terrorists.
Seven terrorists died due to confrontations in those areas during the day (10). Tiger terrorists in MUNDIMURIPPU around 6.00 p.m. attacked an Army bunker. The attack caused the loss of one soldier and injury to two more soldiers. Four terrorists also suffered injuries during this encounter.
Similarly, search and clear operations that followed found three anti personnel mines, two IEDs and several other explosive devices.
In the meantime, confrontations in KADDAMANDANKULAM, PALAWEDDUMODAI, PALLAIMUNAI, UTHKAMAM, PALAIRAIMOTAI area in MANNAR resulted in the death of seven Tiger terrorists. Troops after the clashes came across thirty anti personnel mines, six 81 mm traps and two 122 mm traps from those areas. Troops also managed to destroy two bunkers. Eight soldiers received injuries and were evacuated to hospital.
Meanwhile, explosion of an anti personnel mine killed one soldier and injured another in the general area of NADANKANDAL.
In the meantime, confrontations in NAGARKOVIL and KILALY areas in the JAFFNA peninsula on Thursday (10) killed one terrorist and injured more than four.
