Troops capture Tigers’ top defence lines

Jeyapuram, Akkrayankulam tank bund, 12 km defences fall to Army:

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Nachchikuda: The 58 Division troops operating in the western edge of the Kilinochchi district yesterday kept the momentum of their speedy advance into Tiger held territory completely capturing the Jeyapuram village the last village in the Western part of Kilinochchi district and the 12 km long LTTE defence line south of Nachchikuda.

Troops of the 57 Division also made a major breakthrough yesterday capturing a 1.5 Km long heavily fortified Akkrayankulam tank bund further clearing their path towards Akkarayan village and Kilinochchi, Military sources said.

“With the capture of the Nachchikuda LTTE defence line and the Akkarayankulam tank bund the troops of the 57 Division and 58 division are now in full control of the LTTE defence line from Nachchikuda on the A-32 road to A-9 road in the South of Kilinochchi and in strong position to further advance into the LTTE held areas,” a senior Army official told the Daily News.

“They are now dominating the nearly 30 Km long LTTE defence line whilst 58 Division has advanced more than seven Kilometers from this earth bund”, the official added.

The troops of the 58 Division under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva captured the entire Jeyapuram village located in the west of Mannar Pooneryn A-32 road in the north east of Nachchikuda by 1 p.m yesterday dealing a severe blow on the LTTE cadres operating there and making a dent in LTTE operations in Nachchikuda.

“With these advances, Nachchikuda has been totally surrounded by the troops and is poised to fall under the control of the troops soon,” the official added.

The LTTE strongly held Jeyapuram village located in the North East of Nachchikuda and West of Pandiveddikulam fearing that troops will cut off the A-32 road from the North of Nachchikuda after capturing Jeyapuram village. However, troops were able to isolate this village advancing further northward from the West of Jeyapuram and later hitting the A-32 road from the north of Jeyapuram.

“Troops captured this strategically important village with zero casualties marking a major milestone in their achievements,” Military sources added.

According to military sources troops are also poised to capture Nachchikuda the last fishing village held by the LTTE on the Western coast with the troops continuing pressure on the LTTE heading towards the Nachchikuda earth bund. Earlier on Tuesday evening troops cut off supply routes

to Nachchikuda after the capture of a four way junction on the 16th Mile Post on the A-32 in the general area of Pallawarayankaddu. The LTTE lost the ground links between the Nachchikuda and Vallaipadu a major Sea Tiger base in the Western coast with the capture of the four way junction.

The 58 Division which began its advance from Vavuniya- Mannar road under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva advanced up to Mulangavil and faced the challenge of crossing the huge earth bund constructed from Nachchikuda to Akkarayankulam and effectively faced this challenge after capturing the earth bund from Karambakulam area.

“The capture of Jeyapuram and the isolation of Nachchikuda are direct results of the strategic moves by the 58 Division troops with the capture of this earth bund from Karambakulam,” the official added.