After months of heavy fighting in the northern region, both the Sri Lanka Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last Tuesday engaged in one of the fiercest battles which continued throughout the day inflicting heavy damage to both parties. This battle marked a new chapter in the fourth Eelam war as both parties used their maximum fire power.
Ground sources confirmed that the 4 Sinha Regiment (SR) led by Lt. Col. S. Welikala and 11 Ceylon Light Infantry (CLI) led by Lt. Col. Senaka Wijesuriya and 6 Gemunu Watch (GW) led by Lt. Col Kamal Pinnawala of the 58 division who were operating in Akkarayankulam and Vennarikulam in the Kilinochchi district, came under several waves of attack formations launched by the LTTE.
The fighting began when the 11 CLI and 6 GW broke the massive recently built 20 kilometre-long defence line from Nachchikuda to Akkarayankulam. The defence line is considered to be one of the strongest trench lines that the LTTE had built in the western flank of the A-9 road.
Following fierce fighting on Tuesday morning, the 4 SR too broke through the defence line from Akkarayankulam. However, due to heavy resistance from the LTTE, 11 CLI and 6 GW tactically withdrew from some of the captured defence lines by noon, but continued to put maximum pressure on the LTTE.
With this development, the LTTE used the opportunity to focus pressure on the 4 SR troops in Akkarayankulam, sending at least four continuous attacks towards the troops. Fierce fighting continued throughout the day
The Sri Lanka Air Force carried out two air strikes using fighter jets and a MI-24 helicopter gunship targeting the LTTE forward defences in the Nachchikudha area on Monday.
On Tuesday fighter jets launched air raids at identified LTTE mortar gun positions located North of Nachchikuda area. Further, the targeted LTTE location was also identified as a resistance point for the ground troops of Task Force 1 or the 58 Division now operating on the Western battlefront in the Kilinochchi district.
However, troops later captured some 400 metres of land area. As heavy fighting raged the defence ministry put the death toll of the troops at 12 soldiers killed and 31 others injured. Seven more soldiers have gone missing while resisting terrorist attacks in Nachchikudah area, it said.
Meanwhile, the pro-LTTE Tamilnet website said that at least 75 soldiers were killed and a large number injured in the battle on Tuesday. It also said that they had captured seven soldiers during the battle and had published the photos of those soldiers.
Meanwhile, it is confirmed that 19 partly disfigured and decomposed corpses of soldiers, have been delivered to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) officials by the LTTE in Mullaittivu district, and were handed over to the military on Wednesday evening at Omanthai Entry/ Exit point.
Of them, seven dead bodies have been so far identified as those of the soldiers who had gone missing in Nachchikuda area on Tuesday. Troops fighting in the east of Nachchikuda in Mullaittivu District had reported that seven of their fellow soldiers had unfortunately failed to join up with the rest of their troops after heavy fighting.
Capturing Mallavi
On Tuesday evening troops handed over twenty bodies of dead LTTE cadres to the ICRC officials to be taken to the un-cleared areas across the Omanthai Entry/Exit point. Most of these dead cadres were from Mallavi, Palamoddai and Welioya areas.
Mid last week, a small team of the 57-3 brigade directed by its Commander Lt. Col. Pratap Tilakaratne infiltrated defences around the LTTE’s one time administrative town Mallavi. Their main purpose was to gather details about the LTTE’s build up in the area. 7 SR led by Lt. Colonel Kithsiri Liyanage was stationed on both the east and west of Mallavi town. 3 GR led by Major Sanjeewa Fernando was waiting in West of Mallavi, while 9 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment (VIR) was on the eastern end of the town. Their main task was to enter the strategically important town.
By the end of the last week, troops closed in on the town as they had already destroyed a massive trench that was built by the Tigers in order to prevent military advance.
By the end of last week, fierce battles erupted in and around the Mallavi town. However, by Saturday evening LTTE resistance had waned and by Sunday, troops of the 9 VIR, 7 SR and 3GR entered the town as there was no resistance from the fleeing Tigers.
Around 5 pm on the same day, the National flag was hoisted at the town centre by the soldiers after a clearing operation. Around 20 LTTE cadres are believed to be killed and a large number of others injured in fighting in the area.
Known as ‘Little Geneva’ due to a large number of offices belonging to Non- governmental Organizations based in the town, Mallavi is located about 3.5 km East of Tunukkai. The Mallavi town is said to be one of the favorite places of LTTE leader Prabhakaran's wife, Madivadini. It has about a 1 km long main street with boutiques and shops on either side.
Mallavi town has functioned as the main commercial hub in the Mullaittivu district border. It has remained a fully-fledged township with two rural banks, branches of the Bank of Ceylon and the People's Bank, a Ceramic Factory, a large Bakery, Water and Electricity Board buildings, Sub Post Office and more than 40 business centres. An LTTE administrative office established in Mallavi town too was also found.
The LTTE's main supply routes, Vellankulam - Mankulam, Mallavi - Kokkavil, Mallavi - Nachchikuda and several link roads are run across this central town.
Earlier, on August 22 the troops of the 57 Division led by Major General Jagath Dias took control of Thunkkaki and Uyiliankulama towns in the eastern Mullaittivu battlefront.
At present, the 57-3 brigade is advancing their defences towards the North and the North West of the region.
Meanwhile, troops of the Army 59 Division operating on the Mullaittivu eastern front continued to attack the LTTE defences in the Mullaittivu jungle. Ground sources confirmed that the troops would soon reach the southern bund of the Nayaru Lagoon followig weeks long fighting and journeying through jungle routes. The troops are presently operating in an open area and on Tuesday they commenced using armed tanks to attack rebel targets.
Poor response to LTTE’s call on its deserters
Less than 200 LTTE cadres, who had deserted the organization had returned willingly to the LTTE, but over hundreds of others were forcibly taken away by the LTTE for failing to adhere the Tiger call. In the middle of last month, the LTTE ordered its members who deserted the organization to surrender by August 20, as the battle with the military had reached its final stage. The announcement was made via LTTE's clandestine radio station ‘Voice of Tigers’. According to the announcement, deserters were asked to report to nearby LTTE camps and also to the LTTE's political headquarters in Kilinochchi. Reports from Kilinochchi said that only some 200 LTTE deserters returned to the Political headquarters. Among them, were a large number of disabled persons. Due to this situation, the LTTE leadership had ordered that all deserters be rounded up immediately. Afterwards a week long operation followed and the LTTE had succeeded in arresting around 400 deserted cadres. According to the announcement that was aired using FM 98.0 from Kilinochchi, even old cadres and disabled cadres were asked to re-join the organization. These cadres, who joined willingly or unwillingly, were after a brief training, immediately deployed to areas where fierce fighting was taking place, informed sources added. During the last two weeks the LTTE had forcibly recruited some 65 to 70 youths under the LTTE’s order that at least two persons from one family should join the organization. Meanwhile, through the Voice of Tigers, LTTE Political Chief Nadesan had urged the youth in LTTE-held areas to join them. In his announcement Nadesan had said since the Sri Lanka Army had entered their ‘motherland’ more fighters were needed for the force. “The fight had entered a crucial moment and you should join with us to stop the SLA advancing further to our area,” he had said.
Food poisoning of soldiers: Cyanide mix with fish
Following these reports, the army headquarters and the other two forces have immediately alerted other camps and bases to take safety action concerning food served in these camps and bases.
It was revealed that the fish in question had been brought from fishermen in Ampara. Investigations are underway to find out how this fish stock had been mixed with cyanide. Normally, the military purchases fish from local fishermen at the beach or from fish stalls.
A sample of the food that had been referred to the government analyst and the Medical Research Institute (MRI) in Colombo were being further investigated.
Last Thursday, an hour after their breakfast, some 270 recruits complained of nausea, headache and dizziness and were rushed to hospital. However only 122 soldiers were admitted and the others were released due to their improved health condition. By Wednesday morning 28 soldiers were still there at Polonnaruwa, Dehiattakandiya and Amapara hospitals.
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