Desperate Tigers intensify terror
Troops foil Tiger bid to blast Iranamadu tank:

by Ranil Wijayapala |
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday gave 48 hours commencing from
Friday morning, for the LTTE to allow free movement of the civilians
entrapped in the Tiger controlled areas in Mullaitivu assuring the
civilians a safe passage and also of their welfare once they reached
Government controlled areas.
Despite, this repeated request by the President, there was no
positive response from the LTTE towards it even by yesterday noon giving
a clear message that they are not going to see the end of this battle
leaving the innocent civilians out the theatre of war now being fought
in the Mullaitivu district.
Only a handful of civilians were able to flee the Tiger grip after
President Rajapaksa’s request. The same appeal was made by the UN
Secretary General to the LTTE. It also came from many leaders across the
globe and organisations committed to protect human rights of the
civilians entrapped in war zones.The neighbouring Indian Government and
many political leaders too expressed their concern about the plight of
the civilians entrapped in Mullaitivu has made as they were aware of the
safety measures the Government and the Security Forces so far has taken
to see that the civilians are not affected from the battle. It is now
clear that the LTTE is not going to heed any of the humanitarian appeals
by any democratic leader in the world at this moment. The international
community should realise the fact that it was due to the pressures from
the LTTE the civilians cannot reach the safer areas.
Request
The urgent request to the LTTE, by the President was made at a time
the Security Forces were reaching towards the zones declared for
civilians safety and all battle formations were encircling the remaining
areas held by the LTTE.
However sensitive civilian safety is there is no possibility for any
Government to guarantee the safety when they are under the clutches of a
ruthless terror outfit.
There is no guarantee that the LTTE would not resort to any desperate
act endangering the lives of more than 150,000 entrapped there once its
leader Prabhakaran is going to lose his two and half decade long battle
against the Sri Lankan state.
They very explicitly displayed its ruthlessness, once again last
Saturday after they exploded the massive Kalmadukulam tank bund with the
intention of creating a massive destruction to the Security Forces
ignoring the presence of the thousands of civilians living there.
But their terror plans were effectively foiled by the Security Forces
smoothly reacting to the situation created after the explosion of the
Kalmadukulam tank bund.
The intention of the LTTE, according to military officials who had
intercepted the radio communications of the LTTE prior to this incident,
was to starve the troops of their arms and ammunition once they were cut
off from their bases.
Thousands of soldiers attached to the 58 Division and the 57 Division
operating in Vishuamadu North and Vishuamadu South were cut off by huge
waters that engulfed the area with the blast of the tank bund around
9.30 am on last Saturday.
As this huge quantity of water flowed through Nethal Aru that flows
to the sea from the Vishuamadu North area, soldiers climbed on tree tops
and other high grounds in Vishuamadu and Tharmapuram areas to save their
lives. Some of them had miraculous escapes but many were prepared to the
occasion as they have received the message about it minutes before the
waters reached them.
The Tiger plan is now obvious. They had exploded this huge Tank bund
with the objective of destroying large number of soldiers and also
capturing them alive after their ammunition stocks are over after.
As troops had received an indication of what LTTE was going to do
they were prepared to face that situation effectively putting all terror
plans in drains.
They could not capture any soldier alive despite their propaganda
across the globe spread the false news that 700 soldiers were captured
alive after this incident.
But this is not the only plan the Security Forces have foiled during
the last week. If not for the vigilance of the Security Forces the LTTE
would have been able to blast the massive Iranamadu tank too creating a
massive destruction in Kilinochchi and upto Elephant Pass and Pooneryn.
The troops operating in Iranamadu tank were able to avert this
tragedy this week after they arrested two Tiger cadres who had been sent
to Iranamadu area to accomplish the task of exploding the Irnamadu tank
bund.
Vigilant troops operating there in Iranamadu had captured two Tiger
cadres who had arrived close to Iranamadu tank bund along with four
claymore mines weighing more than 100 Kg. They have moved into the area
from Puthukuduiruppu area across the jungle terrain where Task Force III
is now operating South of A-35 road.
Trained
According to the military, the arrested Tiger cadres have been
trained to swim 10 Km non stop prior to sending on this mission. They
have been given such training as Irnamadu tank expands for more than 17
square kilometres and if they want to blast the tank bund they have to
swim along with their explosives more than 10 Km straight to avoid the
troops operating there.
The troops who were on vigilance after the explosion of the
Kalmadukulam tank had observed these two Tiger cadres close to tank bund
as they were throwing hand grenades into the tank to avoid any Tiger
infiltrations.
The two Tiger cadres have also left another 100 Kg of claymore bombs
which were taken with them to accomplice this target halfway as they had
to pass long way to reach the tank bund avoiding troops.
If they were not detected by the troops they would have created the
biggest tragedy in Sri Lanka at least killing 5,000 people as the
quantity of water in the Iranamadu tank is capable of inundating an area
upto Jaffna.So the vigilant troops have avoided that human tragedy also
neutralizing yet another terror plan to take upper hand in the current
context of the war.

A soldier pictured cleaning his rifle with a tooth brush at the
battle front in Mullaitivu with the Security Forces poised for
the final clean up of the LTTE in the North. |
These facts prove beyond any doubt that the LTTE is willing to do any
act of terror to reach their terror objectives. The presence of the
civilians under their arrest provides them strength in accomplishing
these terror plans as they have not shown an iota of respect for
humanity at this stage though their media machinery talks highly about
the plight of the civilians.
What they really want is to let these civilians starve, wounded or
dead in battle. Then only they can take maximum advantage out of them.
Otherwise they would use these civilians as slaves to be deployed to the
war front as they are deploying their last batches of cadres to the
battle front at this stage.
Therefore, civilian factor will rein in the next few days in the
Northern battle front as Security Forces are above to get contact with
the civilians within the next 48 hours if the LTTE is not allowing them
to reach to safer areas.
Negotiations were going on by yesterday noon by the ground troops as
58 Division and the 57 Division were completing their mission of
capturing entire Vishuamadu area by yesterday noon.
The 58 Division under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva whose
troops were operating in the North of A-35 road were operating just two
Kilometres short of reaching Chalai coast where the LTTE is having its
last Sea Tiger base.
Over the past few weeks the 58 Division had a steady progress in
battle after they captured Tharmapuram after advancing 17 Km on the
Paranthan, Mullaitivu A-35 road.
The 58 Division is facing stiff resistance from the LTTE as they are
advancing into the most sensitive area where they are having their
prestigious assets along with their top leaders.
During the past few weeks the troops operating South of A-35 road
came across many Tiger installations including their training bases,
armouries and fuel dumps. This is a clear indication that they were
using the jungle terrain between Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu to place
many of their assets. They have chosen this area as they have not been
touched by the Security Forces during any military operation.
Capturing
The Task Force II under the command of Brigadier Rohana Bandara, Task
Force III under the command of Brigadier Satyapriya Liyanage and Task
Force IV under the command of Colonel Nishantha Wanniarachchi are
heading in a South to North direction capturing all these assets of the
LTTE.
Exposure of these assets very clearly indicates the fact that LTTE
had not used a single cent for the welfare of the Tamil community though
they claimed that they were the sole representative of the Tamil
community.
As troops are moving fast towards the A-35 road from the southern
direction the 59 Division which was able to capture Tiger stronghold
Mullaitivu last Sunday in one of their surprise moves, are now poised
hot capture the other biggest town Puthukuduiruppu in the Mullaitivu
district.
At present Visuamadu and Puthukuduoruppu are the nerve centres of the
LTTE battle against the Security Forces now going on in Mullaitivu
district.
The fall of Mullaitivu has put the LTTE in one of the most desperate
situations as they never expected such a blow at this juncture.The 59
Division under the command of Brigadier Nanadan Udawatta had their plans
in hands to capture Mullaitivu town by January 22. By January 22 the 59
Division had moved up to Puthukuduiruppu South from the West of
Nanthikadal lagoon.
But, the 591 Brigade was struck South of Mullaitivu on the
Alampil-Mulaitivu road for the past one month due to earth bunds. Many
attempts made by the 59 Division on several occasions since December 26
had to be abandoned due to heavy casualties reported during fierce
battles that erupted in this stretch.
Therefore, the 593 Brigade under the command of Colonel Jayantha
Gunaratne, who were operating in the West of Nanthikadal lagoon were
given the task of capturing the earth bund. The 7 Gemunu Watch battalion
commanded by Lt. Colonel Chaminda Lamahewa was given the task of
capturing the earth bund South of Mulaitivu before initiating the master
plan to capture Mulaitivu town.He took the task effectively with the
support of the 591 Brigade under the command of Colonel Aruna
Ariyasinghe by Friday morning. During this battle, the LTTE lost control
of the strongly held earth bund South of Mulaitivu. Only five soldiers
sustained injuries during this battle. It was a comparatively negligible
number compared to the number of casualties among the troops on earlier
occasions.It was a major breakthrough for the 59 Division which was
striving to capture key Mulaitivu stronghold from the LTTE.The second
part of the operation was planned for January 24 Saturday night.
The 593 Brigade Commander Colonel Jayantha Gunaratne took the
initiative to prepare the plan to capture Mulaitivu town. They were
aware that LTTE was strongly holding the town with a large number of
their cadres inducted into the town.
Therefore, all plans were set to capture the town in a surprise move.
The three battalions under the command of the Colonel Jayantha
Gunaratne, 15 Sri Lanka Light Infantry Battalion under the command of
Major Sujeewa Hettiarachchi, 12 SLLI under the command of Major Wasantha
Perera and 7 Gemunu Watch Battalion under the command of Lt. Colonel
Chaminda Lamahewa were given different tasks.The 15 SLLI was asked to
move into the town from the West of Mankulam-Mulaitivu road whilst 12
SLII was asked to move into the Mulaitivu town from East of Alampil
Mulaitivu road in the early hours of Sunday morning.
While the LTTE put up a big resistance to the troops advancing from
the two directions, the 7 Gemunu Watch battalion reached the centre of
the town from the Eastern edge of the Nanthikadal lagoon.
As the LTTE was confronting with the troops in the centre of
Mulaitivu town, they observed a sudden fire from the rear side of the
Mulaitivu town.
The LTTE cadres were baffled by this situation. Actually it was the
surprise move made by the 7 Gemunu Watch battalion to trap the LTTE in
the centre. They took the first initiative on Saturday night. The Alpha
Company under the command of Captain Premachandra had taken initiative
to induct his troops inside the Mulaitivu town.
The troops who were operating close to the famous Vatrapalai Amman
Hindu Temple crossed the Nanthikadal lagoon under the cover of thick
darkness on Saturday night. Sergeant Navaratne, Corporal Chandrasiri,
Lance Corporal Sarath Nanda Kumara and Corporal Chaminda Perera were the
first to cross the Nanthikadal lagoon in neck deep water and move into
the town.
Crossed lagoon
A number of soldiers crossed the lagoon and lay ambush inside the
town until the troops of the 12 and 15 SLLI troops reached the centre of
the town although they observed many Tiger movements inside the town. It
was around 9.30 a.m. on Sunday when they started firing at the LTTE
cadres compelling them to flee Mulaitivu town by sea.
It was around 1.00 p.m. the 593 Brigade troops secured the Mulaitivu
town with 15 SLLI troops and taking control of the Eastern edge of the
Nanthikadal lagoon West of Mulaitivu town whilst 12 SLLI troops took
control of the beach front of the Mulaitivu town. The 7 Gemunu Watch
battalion was deployed in the Northern tip of the Mulaitivu town.
Even after 1 p.m. on Sunday after the news about the capture of
Mulaitivu hit the streets in Colombo troops conducted search operations
to flush out the Tiger cadres who were trying their best to launch
counter attacks and recapture the lost terrain.
As the 593 Brigade taking control of the Mulaitivu town, the 591
Brigade under the command of Colonel Aruna Ariyasinghe held the beach
front of Mullaitivu South. Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka
announced the victory of Mullaitivu after all these measures were taken
by the 59 Division.
As Security Force have achieved all these victories fulfilling the
hopes and aspirations of the entire nation, they are eagerly awaiting
the liberation of the remaining areas under Tiger control very soon with
the hope of celebrating Independence with much grandeur. |