LTTE defences in Mannar and Vavuniya fall to army; terrorists on the
run with soaring casualties
 Reports from the battlefronts in Wanni indicate that
Sri Lanka army soldiers have been able to dominate the LTTE defences at
Uyilankulama and Thampanai by this evening (December 22).
According to the reports, troops have launched a
pre-emptive strike at the Uiylankulama terrorists' bunker line around 10
this morning and destroyed 10 LTTE bunkers. Army radio monitoring units
have revealed that 8 terrorists were killed and over 14 injured in the
battle that lasted for hours. However, the ground troops have reported
that the terrorists' casualties might be very much higher than they have
spoken through radios.
Ground sources have further said that the terrorists'
attempt to recapture the bunker line was completely crushed by army
infantrymen backed by artillery support, this evening at around 2.30p.m.
One soldier made his ultimate sacrifice for the
motherland while six others sustained injuries. The injured were
immediately directed to medical attention, the reports said.
Meanwhile, in the Vavuniya front, terrorists have
vacated their defence line at Thampani this afternoon as the battle
intensified on the Mannar front. Military sources said that, the
terrorists have taken flight in the face of the clearing operations
launched by troops this morning.
According to radio monitoring units the terrorists
have gone on a total confusion as female LTTE cadres at the frontlines
refused to fight and started to withdraw. The senior male leaders who
are at the back were heard yelling at the female cadres to defend the
frontlines and to hold the army advance. However, many orders from the
back were repeatedly ignored and ended up as heated arguments between
the LTTE ranks and the leaders, sources further added.
Separately, troops mobilized armour tanks pounding
LTTE bunker positions ahead of Manthai defences, north of Mannar today
at 10.30a.m, security sources said. Ground sources reveal, many LTTE
bunkers were destroyed with heavy losses to terrorists in the military
advance, though figures were yet to be verified.
Meanwhile, troops are now consolidating the new
defence lines, security sources said.
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