LTTE on the run in Sampur

By Ranga Jayasuriya

The LTTE is faced with a shortage of ammunition, military intelligence claim. This coupled with the air strikes and counter battery fire of the security forces is the reason for LTTE artillery guns to fall silent in the East as Special Force commandoes advance towards Sampur, according to military intelligence sources.

Commandoes are now 2.5 Km inside Tiger territory and have taken control of the Kattaparichchan village and the Kattaparichchan bridge which is the main road link between Tiger controlled Sampur and the Government controlled area.

Troops are advancing in a heavily mined and booby trapped terrain. The LTTE has not opted to fight a close combat, instead has fired portable mortars such as 60 mm. Twenty-two soldiers including two officers were killed in action and 130 security force personnel have been wounded. The LTTE is moving its heavy artillery out of Sampur, a sign of the Tigers coming to terms with the imminent collapse of hitherto Tiger stronghold of Trincomalee. Sampur is home to LTTE’s eastern political headquarters, a court, police station and a cluster of sea Tiger bases.

LTTE casualties are estimated to be over 100 cadres killed, according to the Security Forces. However, independent verification on the LTTE casualty figures was not possible.

(Also see Defence Diary)