|
Tigers
now an endangered species!
Army
captures seventh LTTE airstrip
As this column was being written last afternoon, the Sri Lanka
Army (SLA) declared that, the seventh airstrip had fallen
into Army hands. The announcement also stated that the seventh
and, apparently, the last Tiger airstrip, some two kilometres
long, west of Sundarapuram, Thirivilaru, northeast of Piramantharukulam
in Puthukudirippu, was captured and the area brought under
the control of 58 Division troops commanded by Brig. Shavindra
Silva by yesterday morning.
LTTE lose manpower and ground by the day
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were restricted
by the military to an area of 270 sq. kms by January 26. And
by February 3, it was further restricted to an area of 185
sq. kms. To be precise, the Tigers have lost some 85 sq. kms
within six days.
A source from Europe said that, LTTE leader Prabhakran has
several underground bunkers and some of them connecting other
bunkers via tunnels. He further said that, the LTTE leader
is still in Sri Lanka, while adding that, if the Tiger leader
leaves the country, the remaining LTTE cadres will abandon
the battle and, along with the civilians, enter government
controlled areas, to remain as ‘sleeping’ cadres.
They could become active at a later period, should the need
arise. This is the same source who told this column in detail
of Prabhakaran’s underground bunker and of which, a graphic
detail was exclusively published in this column on February
23, 2008. The source further said that, at the moment, the
LTTE cadres are highly demoralised, and the rapidity with
which the troops launch offensives, leaves the Tigers no time
to bury their weapons. But the source said that they will
bury their weapons during a later part of the battle, if and
when Prabhakran leaves the country.
Jaffna battle in last stage
At any moment now, the 55 Division commanded by Brig. Prasanna
Silva should reach Chalai, a key point to unload the LTTE’s
arms shipments. When the 55 Division captures Chalai, it would
be a significant blow to the LTTE’s sea operations.
Prabakaran’s first luxury house and third underground
bunker recovered
On February 1, Sunday night, groups of soldiers from 11 Sri
Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) sneaked into the well fortified
LTTE held area alongside the A35 road north of Vishvamadu.
Their target was LTTE leader Prabhakaran’s home cum bunker.
Soldiers received intelligence that Prabhakaran lived in this
particular place. The 11 SLLI under the command of Lt. Col.
Kithsiri Liyanage were assigned the task of capturing it.
They advanced towards the Paranthan-Mullaittivu main road
in the general area north of A35 road at Piramanthalkulam.
The advancing soldiers saw well guarded houses within a coconut
cultivation..
Troops faced severe resistance from LTTE cadres, as snipers
perched on coconut trees targeted advancing troops. The LTTE
snipers managed to shoot down two soldiers, while at the same
time, other LTTE cadres opened fire with 120mm, 80mm and 60mm
mortars. They also opened fire with 12.7mm heavy calibre guns.
During the fierce gun battle, an officer, Lt Chandrakumara,
had a close call when his steel helmet slipped off his head
as a bullet struck it. Fortunately, he wasn’t injured.
Unable to withstand the troops’ heavy firepower, the
Tigers were compelled to withdraw with their dead and wounded
cadres. Later, troops recovered five bodies of slain LTTE
cadres.
After consolidating their positions, search operation conducted
by troops revealed a special house which looked different
to the other cadjan houses around. All these cadjan houses
were the LTTE’s mini satellite bunkers surrounding this
particular house. Troops took utmost care while entering this
house as it could be booby trapped. An Officer from the battlefront
said that the three-roomed house with an underground bunker,
was air-conditioned. He said there were three soundproof generators
to provide electricity to the house and underground bunker.
The underground bunker was 50ft deep, protected with a 3ft
thick layer of concrete. It was fully air-conditioned and
consisted of four furnished compartments with tiled floors.
The sources said that surveillance cameras too were fitted
at the entrance to the bunker complex.
During further search operations, troops also found an oxygen
plant inside a luxury compartment believed to be Prabhakaran’s
room, along with an M-16 (new version) machine gun and a container
for insulin. Troops had also located a deep-freezer inside
the compartment. “Four guard points were located adjacent
to the compartment, which were manned by Prabhakaran’s
personal bodyguards”, a military official said. Three
soundproof power generators were used to supply electricity
to the residential site and the adjacent bunkers, the sources
further said.
Infantry battalion overruns Black Tiger camp first time in
Eelam War history
A group of soldiers trained by the Special Infantry oriental
team belonging to the 6 Gemunu Watch (6GW) and commanded by
Lt. Col. Kamal Pinnawala, left their base on January 28. Their
destination being the deep jungles between Vishvamadu North
and the Chalai Lagoon. The soldiers were extra careful when
they traverse jungle areas as they have to defuse Johnnie
mines planted by the Tigers and clear the path for the others.
The soldiers saw a large LTTE base and after monitoring with
their binoculars, informed their commanding officer (CO) of
the existence of the camp. The CO, Lt. Col. Pinnawala, ordered
the soldiers to move on.
On February 29 morning, infantrymen of 6GW, maneuvering towards
the Chalai lagoon, captured a highly fortified LTTE camp located
in the jungles east of Puliyampokkanai. The camp was used
by the Black Tigers and its band of suicide bombers. Troops
came across the camp on the eastern bank of the Piramanthal
Aru, about 7 km North of the A-35 road. This was a very well
constructed base with accommodation, generators, firing range,
underground bunkers, LTTE uniforms in store, a collapsible
communication tower and a gymnasium. This base is believed
to be the Black Tigers’ headquarters and training center.
The same day, Division Commander Brig. Shavindra Silva, 581
Brigade Commander Deshapriya Gunawardane and 6GW CO Lt. Col.
Kamal Pinnawala planned an attack on the Black Tiger base.
On February 30, early morning, troops from 6GW moved towards
their objective.
Troops on their way defused several booby traps and when they
were within firing range, they opened up with massive firepower.
At the same time, artillery and 81mm mortars rained on the
camp. LTTE cadres were seen dragging their wounded and dead
comrades away from the area. Meanwhile, the Black Tigers,
through their communication sets, requested for reinforcements.
But communications were blocked by the military. Ground troops
entered the Black Tiger base and confronted the enemy head
on. Although the Black Tigers were reputed to be suicide cadres,
they didn’t counter the military onslaught with any suicide
attempts during the confrontation. Amidst the heavy firepower,
the Black Tigers fled the base and, by January 31 afternoon,
the battle was over. According to intercepted LTTE communications,
troops were able to verify the death of 48 LTTE Black Tiger
cadres with more than 50 being reported wounded. Troops recovered
five bodies inside the base. Around 12 soldiers were injured
in the confrontation. An ordinary SLLI battalion was able
to overrun the LTTE Black Tiger base and consolidate their
positions. Troops recovered 45 bags containing LTTE uniforms
and an album containing photographs of Black Tiger cadres
with their leader V. Prabhakaran.
Among the other items recovered were 3 nos. 120 mm Mortar
Guns, 13 nos. RPG bombs, 2 nos. 81mm Mortar Guns, 8 Claymore
Mines, an 82mm Mortar Gun, 35 Arul Bombs, 2 nos. 80mm Mortar
Guns, 100 Detonators, 18 T.56 Rifles, a Radio set, 6 Multi
Purpose Machine guns, FMC Pistols, 3000 rounds of ammunition,
a Sniper Rifle, 35 Gas Masks, 2 Thermobaric weapons, 48 Helmets,
Disposable RPGs, 75 Integrants tools, 59 Hand Grenades, a
12.7mm Tripod, 20 Pistols, 35 Pouches and 3 RPG launchers.
There is evidence that LTTE leader Prabhakaran was a regular
visitor to this Black Tiger base, as he is directly commands
the Black Tigers. They are said to be responsible for the
planes and their operations. According to LTTE policy, the
Black Tigers never disclose their identity to the rest of
cadres in the organisation or even to their next of kin.
This is the first time that the military had overrun a Black
Tiger base. The loss of this base would definitely affect
the LTTE cadres’ morale. The Black Tigers carried out
suicide missions such as the Central Bank bomb blast, the
Kolonnawa Oil Refinery attack, Galadari Hotel bomb attack,
Katunayake Airport attack, Anuradhapura Airport attack, the
failed attempt to destroy the Vavuniya military radar. The
first Black Tiger to die in his mission was Vallipuram Vasanthan,
who drove a small truck laden with explosives, into a SLA
camp at Nelliady in Jaffna, on July 5, 1987.
During the early phase of the Tigers’ military campaign,
it did not possess heavy conventional weapons required to
attack large camps. As it could not afford them at that time.
As a result, they decided to create a special wing, of asymmetric
warfare, in order to compensate for the lack of conventional
weapons. Consequently, it is not the act itself — killing
by suicide — that was the Black Tigers’ original
or even main aim, but the military impact of the act and its
strategic consequences.
Notably, the Black Tigers are attributed with the suicide
bombings that killed former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
and 16 others, President Ranasinghe Premadasa and 23 others,
and the attempted assassination of President Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratunga, who lost an eye. The Black Tigers have conducted
more than 100 suicide bombings.
While 58 Division is clearing north of Vishvamadu, the 57
Division, under Maj. Gen. Jagath Dias too is advancing from
south of Vishvamdu.
Prabakaran’s 2nd underground bunker recovered
During an earlier confrontation, 572 Brigade overpowered an
LTTE unit and came across an underground bunker. On entering
it, they found lifts to go down to rooms located 45 metres
underground. The bunker was fully air conditioned and fitted
with luxury furniture and fittings. Soldiers found the bunker
had been evacuated and completely stripped.
At the time the soldiers entered the bunker, the generator
was not functioning and with the available lights they had
found a steel adjustable bed, usually used in hospitals to
accommodate patients whose body and head positions needed
changing. They said they had found many empty insulin injection
containers and used syringes inside a cardboard box in the
room. They also found a sphygmomanometer – an instrument
used to measure blood pressure, and other medical instruments
along with large quantities of medicines.
As the 572 and 574 Brigades advance their troops south of
Vishvamadu, a senior officer said that troops had reached
the last lap south of Vishvamadu. He said there are many key
places located south of Vishvamdu. Meanwhile, during search
operations in schools and Government installations, the two
Brigades were able to recover six 120mm Mortar guns, a 122mm
mortar gun without its barrel, 14 disposable RPGs, 4 oil bowsers
and a Caltex oil container, 2 backhoes, a bulldozer and 20
motorcycles burnt by the LTTE.
Tasks Force 3 troops are the ones who found the LTTE submarine
manufacturing plant a few days ago.
Troops on their way to liberate civilians from LTTE grip
59 Division, under Brig. Nandana Udawatte, comprising of 591
Brigade under Col. Aruna Ariyasinghe, 592 Brigade under Col.
Maneesha Silva and 593 Brigade under Col. Jayantha Liyanage,
is currently engaged in pitched battles. The fighting ensued
since early morning and lasted till 6 pm, after LTTE terrorists
launched artillery attacks from the Safe Zone towards the
SLA. The terrorists are now confined to a small patch of land,
cut off from vital escape routes. Troops are in the process
of advancing deep into LTTE areas to free civilians from the
LTTE’s grip.
Police
Inspector helped LTTE smuggle suicide squad to Colombo
In Trincomalee, special counter terrorism police team arrested
a hardcore LTTE cadre, who is a handler of suicide cadres.
On interrogation, he had revealed that he was a fruit vendor
in Trincomalee and hired a lorry belonging to the Chief Inspector
of Police attached to the Trincomalee Harbor. He further revealed
that he had dispatched five LTTE suicide cadres and suicide
jackets to Colombo in this lorry, which had not been stopped
at any checkpoints, due to the Chief Inspector’s influence.
All five suicide cadres can speak fluent Sinhala and carried
identify cards with Muslim names. Special police team are
investigating this Chief Inspector
LTTE
send civilians to battle by force
On February 3, a group of 75 Tamil civilians who fled
from the LTTE in the general area of Piramanthalkulama, sought
the protection of the 58 Division. The civilians revealed
to the troops that others are being kept by force by the LTTE
and were being trained by the LTTE. They further said that
they were trained to handle T.56 weapons and use grenades.
After training, the LTTE gives them weapons and grenades and
send them to the battlefield with other LTTE leaders. These
leaders instruct as to which direction they have to fire and
lob the grenades. Any civilian found to be disobedient is
killed. They said they had managed to escape, as four forcibly
recruited civilians had helped them and the rest to flee from
the LTTE and enter government controlled areas.
Captured LTTE airstrips
Ground troops before Tuesday’s (3) capture, had earlier
overrun six more LTTE runways and tarmacs in the Kilinochchi
and Mullaittivu districts.
On January 16, 2009, ground troops captured a 1-km-long LTTE
runway in the eastern edge, right opposite the Iranamadu tank
bund.
Troops captured one more LTTE1,100 metre-long airstrip from
the eastern side, parallel to the Iranamadu tank bund on January
15, 2009.
On December 24, 2008, troops walked into another 350-metre-long
LTTE runway in Ampakamam north.
On November 20, 2008, completely overran a separate LTTE runway
on the Pooneryn-Paranthan road - A35, between the 15th and
18th mileposts.
One more tarmac belonging to the LTTE in Wannivilankulam,
about 7 km northwest of Mankulam, fell into Army hands on
September 30, 2008. It was 500 metres in length.
Well built 2.5 km-long LTTE runway with a few hangars, was
captured by the troops, from the area, about 5 km west of
Mullaittivu lagoon on September 10, 2008.
|
