Soldiers overpower stiff terror
resistance in Mullaittivu; 15 terrorists killed in Welioya battles
War against Terrorism in
Sri Lanka
Troops of Army 59 division advancing in Mullaittivu forest yesterday
(August 7) encountered stiff resistance from LTTE as the soldiers were
further closing on the terror dens in Mullaittivu, defence sources on
the Welioya battlefront said.
Military reports received from the front indicate 15 deaths, 23 casualties
to the terrorists while 15 more were recorded as either killed or wounded
in day's clashes flared up in the North of Kiriibbanwewa, Janakapura,
and Andankualama areas. Further, 3 soldiers were killed in action, 7
wounded in action and 4 went on missing during these incidents.
Pitched battles were reported in the North of Andankulama area since
last forenoon as troops kept on pounding at the terror defences that
came across on their way. Troops attacked a terror bunker around 11.30
AM and confirmed 4 terrorists were either killed or wounded. Around
12 noon troops had 3 separate clashes in the same area with groups of
terrorists. Troops claimed 3 terrorists were killed and 5 others wounded.
Also, 2 soldiers were injured due to terror mortar fire.
The days most fierce battle broke out when the terrorists attacked
at the advancing troops around 6 PM. Troops overpowered that terror
attack in a close quarter fighting and chased away the terrorists. 2
soldiers were killed, one suffered injuries and 4 reported missing in
action. Ground sources said that the terrorists probably had taken the
bodies of the missing soldiers for propaganda purpose to boost fast
loosing morale among their ranks. Later, radio monitoring units confirmed
5 terrorists had been killed and 6 others wounded in this confrontation.
Meanwhile, troops operating in the area North of Kiriibbanwewa had
to separate clashes during afternoon hours and claimed 5 terrorists
were either killed or wounded. Further, around 5.45 PM troops engaged
artillery fire at a group of terrorist detected in the area. Radio transmissions
among the LTTE cadres confirmed that 3 terrorists were killed and 4
others were wounded in this incident. Also, a soldier suffered injuries
due to an AP (anti personnel mine explosion) occurred elsewhere last
evening.
In the North of Janakapura area, troops had several clashes with the
terrorists. During the morning hours troops two separate confrontations
with terrorists and claimed 2 terrorists were killed , 2 others wounded
and 3 more were either killed or wounded.
Around 11.50 in the morning troops attacked and captured one terror
bunker and 4 trench defences. Later in the afternoon, troops confronted
with terrorists around 1.35 PM at a separate location. A soldier was
killed and another suffered injuries during the incident. Radio monitoring
confirmed one terrorist was killed and 3 others were wounded.
In a similar incident reported around 2.50 PM, troops attacked group
of terrorists and claimed one terrorist was killed and 3 others wounded.
During subsequent search, a body of LTTE cadre was found along with
one T-56 riffle and 2 hand grenades.
Meanwhile two soldiers suffered injuries due to AP mine explosions
occurred in the Nittukaikulama area last morning.
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