Troops capture 1 km stretch in Mannar

Tiger cross loading point overrun:

Ranil Wijayapala

COLOMBO: The LTTE suffered yet another setback yesterday when troops attached to the 58 Division operating on the Mannar front further advanced towards Tiger held territory overrunning their cross loading point in Uyilankulam and a key position in Palakkuli East, inflicting heavy damages to the outfit.

A senior Military official told the Daily News that the heavily fortified LTTE cross loading point with six strongly built bunker lines and a building complex at Karukkankulam used as the cross loading point at Uyilankulam fell to the Forces yesterday at around 6 a.m.

The LTTE used this cross loading point to search vehicles entering and leaving the uncleared areas in Mannar through the Uyilankulam entry exit point.

"Heavy fighting broke out in Uyilankulam as two companies of the 10th Gajaba Regiment advanced nearly one kilometre ahead of the defences in the early hours on Tuesday to capture the Tiger defences," sources added.

Tiger cadres manning the defence line abandoned their positions and withdrew further towards the north of Mannar in the face of the fierce offensive launched after cutting off all LTTE reinforcements to the battle area.

Troops are now consolidating their positions clearing heavy mine fields laid by the LTTE to stop the ir advance.

Two soldiers were killed and five injured during the fight that lasted for several hours yesterday morning.

"Heavy damage was reported to the LTTE during this battle," sources added. Troops attached to the 10th Gajaba Regiment advanced on this location on the Uyilankulam - Andankulam road after capturing the Uyilankulam entry exit point on December 22 and subsequently capturing their second defence line. Meanwhile, 12 Gemunu Watch troops operating in Palakkuli East also captured a 700 metres long stretch in a coconut cultivation located in the area, in the wee hours of yesterday inflicting heavy damages to the LTTE.

"Seven Tiger cadres were confirmed killed and five injured during the battle," the sources added.

Troops recovered bodies of three female Tiger cadres and five T-56 weapons after the capture of the area. "Troops effectively repulsed subsequent LTTE attempts to recapture their lost territory under the command of Bhanu and Lakshman with Air Force providing air support targeting their key gun position north of Giant Tank," the official added.