SLAF Kfir jets bomb LTTE held villages in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 November 2006, 10:47 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombers bombed civilian settlements nine times Wednesday around 7:15 a.m in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held areas of Kattumurivu in Kathiraveli in Batticaloa district. Casualties in this bombing are not yet known but 12 houses of civilians are said to be badly damaged.

Meanwhile, the SLA launched heavy artillery fire and multi-barrel rockets on Vaharai areas from Tuesday 6:00 a.m to Wednesday 5:00 a.m. from Valaichenai Paper Factory, Karadikulam, and Kadguwatte SLA camps on Panichankerny, Ooriyankaddu, Salithivu, Kandalady, Vaharai and Thadumunai villages in the LTTE controlled territory.

SLA soldiers were brought in 10 buses to Mankerny SLA Tuesday evening, said residents from Mankerny.

Internally displaced persons (IDP), temporarily located and living in tents in these area fled in fear from their shelters. The representatives of Non-government organisations visiting the IDP settlements returned back to government controlled area, said NGO officials.

All traffic to these areas have been suspended while schools and the Vaharai Regional Secretariat are closed.

The LTTE retaliated the attacks by launching mortar fire Tuesday night on Mankerny and Kadguwatte SLA camps, said LTTE sources from Batticaloa.