Ridding LTTE from Muttur

The capture of Muttur town for four days by the LTTE and the siege on the Kattaiparichchan Army detachment and the eviction of Muslim and Sinhalese civilians living in the Trincomalee South area by the LTTE created yet another problem for the Security Forces in mid August even after foiling the major offensives by the LTTE.

Although the Security Forces were able to effectively defeat the LTTE at the initial offensive to take control of the land stretch between Sampur and Muutur and the subsequent attack on Jaffna FDLs commencing from August 11, the presence of the LTTE in Sampur posed big security threat to Trincomalee.

Even after clearing Muttur and Kattaparichchan the civilian population were little reluctant to return to Muttur as the area was within range of the LTTE’s heavy caliber artillery and mortar guns located in Sampur.

There was a request from the civilian population to ensure that Muttur was free from LTTE threat for them to safely return to their village and lead a peaceful life. As this request was pending from the civilian population, the Security Forces were also contemplating the matter as the LTTE presence in Sampur area had created big security risk since it was a key channel for the Security Forces transporting troops and other essential items to Jaffna peninsula by ships.

As the situation was so tense, the LTTE presence in Sampur area had become a sine qua non for the Security Forces. The then Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka was having his military plan for this and summoned Colonel Prasanna de Silva who was the Special Forces Brigade Commander to the Army headquarters and instructed him to plan the operation to clear Sampur and the entire Trincomalee South area.

It was during this period that troops were making their effort to liberate Mavil Aru fully from the LTTE.

Therefore, the military operations to capture Mavil Aru and the subsequent operation to clear Muttur, Kattaparichchan and the confrontations in Jaffna were considered reactions to the LTTE terror. The rest of the military operations were planned by the military to flush them out from the East and then from the Wanni.

Sampur was consolidated and fortified as a marine base by the LTTE after the ceasefire of Feb 22, 2002. There were three Sea Tiger bases at Sampur and Foun Point area from which can launch deadly attack could be launched on ships traveling in and out of the Trincomalee Harbour and Naval craft.

After the LTTE attempt to extend their power bases around Kodyar Bay during the attack on August 2, President Mahinda Rajapaksa insisted that Sampur should be under the Security Forces control and put forward it as one of the pre-conditions to continue any future talks with the LTTE.

It was under these circumstances the operation was planned to liberate Sampur the key Tiger stronghold that could put the Security Forces at peril at any moment.

As the operation was planned, according to estimates of the Security Forces, some 400 LTTE cadres and around 1,000 ellapadai and makkalpadai cadres were there in the Trincomalee South area. They were in possession of two 122mm artillery guns, two to three 120 mm mortars called arti mortar guns, eight 81 mm mortar launchers and two 106 mm RCL guns.

At the initial deployment 7 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment was deployed from Kattaiparichchan area to Pachchanoor area whilst deploying the 7 Gemunu Watch troops in Pahalathoppur and Selvanagar area. Squadrons from the 1 SF and 2 SF were deployed in Pachchanur, Thoppur and Selvanagar area.

To launch the operation Colonel Prasanna de Silva selected 8 Sinha Regiment, 6 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment, 1 SF battalion and 2 SF battalion and Long range Reconnisance patrol Group of the Special Forces.

The Security Forces conducted few deceptive operations from Kattaparichchan, Selvanagar and Pachchanur area so that the LTTE could not think from which direction the Security Forces would advance into their territory.

They were mainly expecting the troops advance from the Kattaparichchan since it was the easiest and vital access to Sampur.

Naval troops were also deployed from Muttur side as if they were going to have an amphibious attack on Sampur.

Although the LTTE thought that the operation to liberate Muttur was launched on August 26, 2006, the exact operation began on August 28, 2006, according to military officials.

Three advances were made within 30 minutes of each from Mahindapuram, Pachanoor and Thoppoor The first which began at 3.30 am from the Mahindapuram army camp was apparently a ‘dummy’ manouevre intending to distract enemy attention. Soldiers proceeded in virtually the opposite direction of Sampoor towards Poomarathaduchenai. Troops returned to base after intermittent exchanges of fire for about 2 hours.

The first major advance began around 4.00 am from the Pachchanoor camp. Troops made their way through Kilathimunai and proceeded in the general direction towards Sampoor.The objective seemed to be that of following a less frequented dirt road that reaches a point between Senaiyoor South and Nallur north.

Two companies from the 6 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment, Charlie Company and Bravo Company launched the initial attack on the LTTE from the Kattaparichchan East without taking the main access route from the Kattaparichchan as they were aware that the LTTE had heavily mined the area after their humiliating withdrawal after the Kattaparichchan attempt on an Army detachment.

The second major advance began at about 4. 30 am from the army camp at Thoppoor. Troops began moving towards Pallimunai enroute to Sampoor.This road would have taken the troops via Pallikkudiyiruppu to Pattalipuram. Another change of direction from there would take the forces to Senaiyoor. As stated before Senaiyoor is adjacent to Sampoor.

Naval gunboats along the coast of Ilakkanthai began shelling the Muthur East region as troops moved out on land. Ilakkanthai is also adjacent to Sampoor along the coast.

Artillery shells were fired regularly from the camps at Kattaiparichan, Selvanagar and Thoppoor towards the Muthur East while artillery fire continued from Mahindapuram towards Poomarathadichenai and its environs.

The Naval base at the Trincomalee Harbour and Army camp at Monkeys Bridge began firing long range artillery as well as multi - barrel rocket launchers along the Kottiaar bay towards the Sampoor coast.

Aerial bombardment was also on with Kfirs and Migs flying regular bombing sorties .

Tiger cadres engaged advancing troops in the general area of Thoppur at the crack of dawn. Fierce fighting ensued for several hours and subsided only in the evening. LTTE fighters also blocked the advance of troops from Pachanoor in the Kilathimunai area.

According to reports at least 13 soldiers were killed on the first day The second day of fighting on Tuesday August 29th saw the armed forces break out at first light from three positions again. Apart from Pachchanur and Thoppur troops began advancing from the Kattaiparichan camp. This is along the Koddyar bay coast like Sampoor.

The second days assault also saw the troops using a large number of tanks and armoured cars. The second day saw the LTTE suffering some reversals.

On the Pachanoor front the LTTE positions were fortified at a point near a jungle stream. After fierce fighting Tiger cadres retreated across the stream and began engaging in mortar fire. On the Thoppoor front the LTTE managed to restrict the troops from advancing.

On the third front at Kattaiparichan troops moved across no mans land and began fighting the LTTE near its positions along a bridge. After intense fighting the LTTE retreated behind the bridge. Thereafter artillery exchanges commenced.

The second day’s fighting saw the armed forces losing only about six or seven men. Many were wounded and succumbed to injuries later. The LTTE suffered heavier losses. At least 18 tigers were killed and 28 injured.

The third day of strife on Aug 30th saw a marked drop in the intensity of fighting. With the armed forces suspending all attempts to advance on ground the LTTE too did not engage the troops.

The army began clearing and consolidating the areas they had gained.

The LTTE did not make any attempt to launch counter attacks. Both sides engaged in sporadic artillery and mortar fire. There were some casualties on either side. Heavy artillery fire from camps or long range fire from Trincomalee coast or aerial bombing did not take place.

Naval gunboats continued to patrol the Sampoor coast and occasionally shelled the coastal areas. The navy claimed to have destroyed a tiger boat coming from Verugal off Ilakkanthai.

Aug 31st or the fourth day saw fighting erupt with a vengeance. Security forces moved out of two positions from the Pachchanoor and Kattaiparichan fronts.

There was no forward movement from the Thoppoor front. The LTTE began resisting. Both sides engaged in incessant artillery and mortar fire.

At Kattaiparichan the tigers went back another 500 to 600 metres from their earlier position. Kattaiparichan is about 6 km from Sampoor. In this front Special Forces troops were heavily deployed and the LTTE was not in a position to confront them effectively as they were confronting them from various directions.

After four days of fighting troops from Kattaiparichan front advanced about three km .

At Pachanoor they advanced about two km while at Thoppoor the security forces had moved about a km forward.

By Septemeber 01, 2006, troops had secured the coastal belt from Kattaiparichchan to Ilankanthai as 6 Vijayabha Infatry battalion had moved towards Ilankanthai confronting heavily confronting the LTTE and isolating Sampur.

On August 02, the 6 Sinha Regiment troops also cleared the areas in the South of Ilankanthai and east of Selvanagar bringing the total area in the South of Sampur under Security Forces control.

The Special Forces troops were clearing the paths for the infantry troops to take control of the area.

It was on September 03 troops surrounded the Sampur town amidst heavy fighting with the LTTE cadres. However, having realized that there was no way out for the LTTE whichhad retreated towards the south taking their heavy weaponry to Kathirvel area.

It was on September 04, 2006 President Mahinda Rajapaksa during a SLFP meeting announced the liberation of Sampur to the entire nation. The Special Forces troops led by Brigadier Prasanna Silva played a key role in capturing Sampur one of the strategic bases under the control of the LTTE.

The liberation of Sampur also enabled the return of nearly 40,000 civilians in Muttur and Trincomalee South to lead a peaceful life without any harassment from the LTTE.

The Trincomalee harbor which was under threat from the LTTE also functioned smoothly as the LTTE presence around the Trincomalee harbour and the Kodyar bay was completely neutralized with the capture of Sampur.