Bhanu's convoy attacked

by Ranil Wijayapala and Thakshila Jayasekara

An LTTE convoy in which LTTE Eastern military wing leader Bhanu was reported to have travelled was completely destroyed after it came under a Karuna faction attack on Monday night around 9.45 p.m. in LTTE controlled Vavunativu area in Batticaloa, military sources said yesterday.

According to sources, there had been four vehicles in this convoy including a Canter lorry, a double cab and two motorcycles, sources added.

The incident had taken place six kilometres away from the Vavunativu military checkpoint. The troops manning the checkpoint have heard a huge blast and firing from that direction for more than 50 minutes commencing from 9.45 pm.

Unconfirmed sources said that three Wanni cadres were killed and seven others injured in the incident.

According to military sources, the Karuna faction cadres had exploded a claymore mine and had attacked the convoy completely destroying the Canter and the double cab.

According to a news report posted in the Asian Tribune.com website the Karuna faction had taken the responsibility of the attack. But, there was no confirmation whether Bhanu was killed in this attack.

According to a report in the Puthinam.com Tamil website, the LTTE Eastern Military Commander Bhanu remains unharmed. It accused the Security Forces of launching this attack with the support of paramilitary cadres.