4-km stretch of LTTE stronghold captured, claims Lankan army

Officials said the army on Thursday evening captured an LTTE strong point named “Aneel” along with some bunkers in Gajabapura area in Northern Mullaitivu, which fell to Government forces.

In its advance, the army had to diffuse many IEDs and mines. “Troops continue conducting search operations and consolidating further in the area,” the Media Centre for National Security said.

Meanwhile, Battlefield reports said that the Army 57 division and the Task Force No 1, which are spearheading the assault on Kilinochchi maintained progress. Troops moved about 2 km north of the Manniyankulam, Therumurukandai road from the east of Akkaraynkuam tank bund and attacked LTTE groups hiding in the area, the military said. “Troops claimed heavy damages to the LTTE and during search operations found one T-56 rifle and some arms,” it said.

Defence Ministry sources said that security forces were advancing deeper into the territory held by Tamil Tigers and had captured several strongholds of the guerrillas. Meanwhile, troops of the army, flanking the Kilinochchi front from east, continued their thrust towards Jaffna on Thursday.

Troops, heading northwards from Manniyankulam, launched a limited offensive on Thursday morning to eliminate LTTE hiding places located north of the Manniyankulam-Therumurukandai road, the ministry said. However, troops heading south, towards Nachchikudha in Kilinochchi continued destroying remaining LTTE footholds located east of the A-32 road, the army said.