Prabhakarans limousine found

Sri Lankan security forces have recovered a damaged bullet proof limousine belonging to LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in the islands embattled north...

Sri Lankan security forces have recovered a damaged bullet proof limousine belonging to LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in the islands embattled north,as they pushed deeper into the region to capture the remaining rebel pockets.

The 58 Division troops engaged in search and clear operations in the area in the north east Pudukudiyiruppu recovered a damaged bullet proof limousine confirmed to have been used by Tiger leader Prabhakaran close to a luxury air-conditioned bungalow inside the 1 sq km terrain surrounded by the Security Forces on Wednesday, the Army said.

Earlier this year,troops stumbled upon a damaged bullet-proof vehicle in Mullaittivu.

The bullet proof car was recovered along with four more burnt cars closer to the luxury house. Security Forces recovered these vehicles on Friday evening during the search and clear operations conducted in Pudukuduyiruppu.

Losing Tiger cadres,having lost all hopes for a last-minute salvation,have vandalised and set ablaze all the five cars,including the chauffeur-driven limousine,believed to have been used by top-rung Tiger leaders, the Army said in a statement.

The bungalow with full air-conditioning had also been torched a few days ago as Tigers were aware that troops would walk into their territory at any given moment,it said. The rugged-looking covered pick up wagon,fitted with double steel sheets to escape bullet hits,was found in thick jungles near here as Lankan forces scour the area for top LTTE leaders,a senior defence official said.

It was a crude improvised version of a bullet-proof vehicle,unlike the new technologically advanced bullet-proof cars available off the shelf and possibly used by senior LTTE leaders,the official had said.

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The Sri Lankan military feels that as the battle intensified,some of the Tiger leaders including Prabhakaran were believed to have been using such vehicles to coordinate operations and to escape injuries during attack.