2ND LEAD

STF, paramilitary attack on LTTE office repulsed - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 June 2006, 14:49 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF), the elite counter insurgency arm of the Sri Lankan forces and paramilitary cadres launched an attack on the Political office of the Liberation Tigers, located in Pavatta, in the interior west of Thirukkovil in Amparai district, Sunday around 2:15 a.m. during the night. The Tigers repulsed the STF and paramilitary cadres, according to Amparai District LTTE Political Head, Jeya. Truce monitors are yet to visit the attack site. Paramilitary cadres brought in 2 lorries are still moving around in the STF controlled area, according to the residents.

The LTTE counter-attack lasted for 35 minutes till the STF troopers with their paramilitaries withdrew from Pavatta, 2 km from Kanjirankuda where a STF camp is located.

The Tigers in Amparai were notified about the attack from their high command in Vanni, Jeya said.

More than a hundred personnel participated in the penetration attack which was repulsed by the Tigers.

The STF troopers also fired shells during the attack towards LTTE positions from Kanjirankuda STF camp, Jeya added.

13 farmers who were in their paddy fields were held by the STF men during the attack. They were released later.

All traffic on Akkaraipattu Pottuvil road remained blocked till 10.00 a.m. in the morning.

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials were informed three times to inspect the Pavatta office, Mr. Jeya said.

Around 30 paramilitary cadres were moving around Sunday morning in Vinayagapuram, Kanjirankuda and Thirukkovil areas.

The STF personnel were remaining inside their camp while the paramilitary cadres were moving around, civilian sources said.

Three paramilitary operatives were identified as "Parani" from Komari, Johnsen Jeyakanthan alias "Pradeepan" from Periyakallar and "Seelan" from Thirukkovil. EPDP and new Muslim members of Karuna group were also observed in Kanjirankuda.

Paramilitary cadres announced a meeting at Minnoli sports club Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. The announcement was made using loudhalers.

Civilians remained inside their houses, sources said.