Forces foil Tiger attempt to breach Jaffna islet

LTTE artillery fire kills six civilians:

Rafik Jalaldeen

JAFFNA: The Security Forces in a pre-down attack yesterday foiled an LTTE attempt to breach Chiraththivu islet in Jaffna. At least 15 Sea Tiger cadres were killed and many injured including a Sea Tiger leader and his deputy who led the attack, Navy spokesman Commander D.P.K. Dassanayaka said.

A cluster of eight LTTE boats deployed from Pooneryn attempted to infiltrate a Navy and Army combined detachment in Chiraththivu was foiled yesterday around 2.00 a.m. "The Security Forces successfully retaliated LTTE attempts to breach the islet and destroyed four Tiger boats.

An LTTE boat was completely destroyed by the Security Forces while another three boats were damaged", Commander Dassanayake said. He said intercepted LTTE communications revealed that the Sea Tiger cadre who led the attack and his deputy were among the 15 LTTE cadres killed.

"The Security Forces also mounted heavy artillery attacks towards the fleeing LTTE boats onward the Pooneryn" he added.

A soldier was killed and three others injured while two sailors and a soldier were reported missing in the attack. The Security Forces launched a subsequent search operation in the vicinity.

Chiraththivu is a small island located close to the Jaffna-Mandaithivu causeway. The LTTE's indiscriminate artillery fire attacks towards civilian settlements in Jaffna town killed six civilians including two children and a woman while injuring 20 others including two children and a catholic priest last morning.

While the LTTE was attempting to infiltrate the Chiraththivu islet they fired 20 artillery towards the Jaffna town from Pooneryn. Four civilians were killed and 20 others injured including two children and a Catholic priest in the Tiger artillery fire which landed in Kurunagar, Pasiyoor and Colombothurai", he told the Daily News. Nine civilians were critically injured in the LTTE artillery fire. The injured priest had been identified as Jesunesan.

Meanwhile, a Navy patrol ambushed and captured two LTTE boats transferring 12 fuel barrels in Ussimukkanthurai Mannar during the wee hours of yesterday. According to Commander Dissanayaka, the Navy patrol observed two suspected boats in seas off Ussimukkanthurai around 3.30 a.m. "The sailors ambushed and captured two boats along with 12 fuel barrels.

We believe the LTTE cadres who were on board were either killed or drowned", he added.