15 sea Tigers killed
At least fifteen sea Tigers were killed yesterday when a flotilla of
sea Tiger boats attempted an abortive attack on naval patrol craft off
Thalai Mannar.
A sailor was killed and three others were wounded in the
confrontation which lasted for two hours yesterday morning.
Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said three sea Tiger
craft were destroyed in the clash involving the Navy's Inshore Patrol
craft (IPC), better known as Waterjets and sea tiger vessels. A naval
dingy was also damaged. Air Force MI 24 helicopters and F 7 attack craft
were called to assist the Naval craft.
A spokesman for the Navy media office said the sea Tigers fled the
battle and retreated in a village in Vedithalathivu.
"The retreating LTTE used civilians as human shields, so that Air
force could not attack them," he said. He said according to civilian
sources, the LTTE had asked fishermen to look for several sea Tigers who
went missing in the clash after their boats were set ablaze in the naval
attack.
The LTTE yesterday fired mortar towards security forces positions in
Mankerny and Kajuwatta despite an assurance by the security forces to
halt fire for three hours to facilitate the transport of food convoys.
The security forces earlier offered not to retaliate for LTTE fire
for three hours between 3 pm and 6 pm yesterday to facilitate the
transport of food convoys for over 30,000 people stranded in Tiger
controlled area. "But, the LTTE continued to fire mortar and artillery
at our positions in Mankerny and Kajuwatta since morning," Brigadier
Samarasinghe said. The Military spokesman said irrespective of "
provocations' by the LTTE, the army would cease fire for three hours to
facilitate the movement of convoys.
The Vakarai AGA and the Kachcheri staff were planning to transport
essentials to the stranded civilians yesterday afternoon when this
edition went to press. |