7 troopers, LTTE cadre killed in Batticaloa STF offensive - LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 November 2006, 13:23 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has claimed that seven Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) troopers were killed when the Tigers counter-attacked the elite commando force that launched a troop movement towards 38th Colony with heavy artillery and mortar fire that claimed the life of a 15-year-old female student and wounded 5 civilians including 2 sisters and a brother of the killed student. A 40 mm Grenade Launcher and a T-56 rifle were seized by the Tigers who lost a cadre, Nanthan, according to LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said.

The STF launched troop movement began around 10:00 a.m. was repulsed Thursday noon, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.

The STF, a specially trained and equipped unit of commandos drawn from the Sri Lankan Police, was initially developed and deployed for counter insurgency operations in the eastern province.

The growth of the LTTE's conventional military capabilities had impelled the STF during the Eelam War III to look beyond standard western counter insurgency doctrine and practice, with operational tasks in controlling government held areas in Amparai and Batticaloa districts.

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