16 LTTE cadres killed: STF commandos foil pre dawn Tiger attack

By Ranga Jayasuriya and Jayampathi Jayasinghe

Special Task Force commandos foiled a pre dawn Tiger attack on a police post in Pillumallai, between Mahaoya and Chenkalady, killing sixteen LTTE cadres including the Kapaveli Tiger leader Kannan.

Retreating LTTE cadres had left twelve bodies of attackers including Kannan.

The bodies were taken to the Mahiyangana Hospital for the autopsy.

Military spokesman Major Rajapaksa said the bodies would be handed over to the LTTE through the ICRC following the judicial examination.

Retreating LTTE cadres were believed to have taken four bodies. A senior STF official said evidence also suggested that at least one seriously wounded cadre has also been taken by the LTTE.

Troops also recovered 11 T 56 assault Rifles, pressure mines and three communication sets.

According to STF sources, the locals had tipped off the STF about the impending attack on the police post.

“We replaced the police personnel with STF and sent an ambush team” said a senior STF officer.

The approaching Tiger attackers were ambushed by the LTTE.

No STF personnel suffered casualties. Three home guards suffered minor injuries.

The Official website of the Media Centre of National Security said that, “the attack on the Pillumullai police post is a clear indication of the presence of the Tiger terrorists in the area. Following the Potuvil massacre of ten innocent civilians, the LTTE declared that they do not have any presence in the area. The Tiger attack on the Pillumullai police post today contradicts their earlier claim of not being present in the area”.

Meanwhile, three policemen on duty at Salambarikulam on the Mannar Vavuniya road were killed when a powerful landmine exploded at around 8.35 a.m. yesterday. The bomb which was suspected to be buried the previous night exploded when the policemen were on picket. The blast occurred about eight miles from the Vavuniya town. Policemen are usually detailed for picket duty from morning till evening. But during the night no one patrols the road due to frequent attacks from the LTTE.

The dead policemen have been identified as PC. 56393 Punchubandara (48) of Kurunegala, PC. 56469 R. M. Chaminda Priyadharshana of Rabbaweva and PC G. Jayaratne of Kebbethigollewa. Their bodies were handed over to their families after a post-mortem examination.