2ND LEAD

STF offensive meets stiff Tiger resistance in Amparai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 November 2006, 11:29 GMT]
Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) troopers from Kanchirankuda and Sangamankandy camps in Amparai district Saturday morning around 7:00 a.m. launched an ambush-styled offensive towards Thangaveluathapuram in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled area. Following stiff resistance put up by a guerilla unit of the Tigers, the STF has pulled back, LTTE political official Veeramani said. A civilian was killed when the STF continued with heavy mortar fire towards Thangavelauthapuram. Two LTTE fighters and four STF personnel were killed in the fighting. STF officials have claimed seizure of 2 automatic rifles and a pistol from the Tigers.

The dead civilian was identified as Suntharamoorthy Sugikaran (Vasanthan), 24, a resident of Thandiyady.

The LTTE official said two LTTE cadres, Ilakkiyan, 24, a Sea Tiger and Jeyaprakash, 21, were killed in action.

Ambulances were observed carrying STF casualties towards Amparai.

At least four STF troopers were killed, according to the LTTE.

The STF, after it pulled back, also launched a mortar attack on LTTE Heroes Cemetary in Kanchchikudicha Aru.

The STF, a counter-insurgency commando force, organized under the Sri Lankan Police department, has claimed that it had seized 2 T-56 automatic rifles, a pistol and a walkie-talkie when it advanced into LTTE area, and launched an ambush on a LTTE position.

Civilians in Thangavelauthupuram fled the village following the shelling by the STF.

Sixteen years ago, on 23.06.1990, Sri Lanka Army chased away more than a thousand Tamil families from the Tamil villages Thangavelauthapuram, Sagamam, Kanchchikudicha Aru and Alikambai.

After struggling in IDP camps in Thirukkovil for nine years, the families returned back to their villages in 1999.

Related Articles:
18.08.06   Humanitarian, relief assistance to LTTE held villages in Amp..
30.05.04   SL Government suspends dry ration relief to Amparai IDPs
18.03.03   Resettlement should be about more than just politics
02.06.99   Military clearance only obstacle to resettlement
31.05.99   Thirukovil refugees ask to go home