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Troops march into Kilinochchi district; 20
terrorists killed in yesterday's clashes
 Victorious troops engaged in Wanni liberation mission
yesterday (July 31) crossed the district borders between Mannar and
Kilinochchi districts at an undisclosed location on the Mannar- Vavuniya
combined warfront. According to the defence sources, fall of Vellankulam,
the next town come across after Iluppaikkadavai when traveling
northwards on the Mannar- Pooneryn (A-32) road is imminent.
Finalized military reports received from the Wanni
theatre of operations indicate 20 deaths and 29 casualties to the
terrorists and report 4 others as either killed or wounded in
yesterday's clashes occurred in the Mannar - Vavuniya and Welioya
battlefronts. Also, 2 soldiers laid down their lives at the field while
2 suffered wounds.
Troops belonging to Task Force 1 (TF-1) continued
their march, fighting terror defenses along the Left flank of the
Mannar- Vavuniya combined front towards Iluppaikkadavai during the day.
Troops established their control over 5 Square Kilometers area after
beating off terrorists from Mundampiddi last evening. Troops found seven
bodies of LTTE cadres along with 3 T-56 weapons and 2 hand grenades.
According to the defence sources 2 out of 5 bodies were unrecoverable
conditions while the rest would be handed over to the ICRC.
Meanwhile troops of 57 Division (57 Div) operating at
the centre of the Mannar - Vavuniya front pushed their hold further
Northwards into the strategically vital Tunukkai area. Troops attacked a
group of terrorists located just south of Tunukkai town around 5.10 PM
and reported that 4 terrorists had been killed and 8 others injured.
Tunukkai town lies halfway on the Mankulam -
Vellenkulam road, one of the main supply routes between Wanni and
north-western coast of the Island. Hence, the town has been used by the
terrorists as their main administrative centre for the non liberated
areas in the West of A-9 road.
Troops of Task Force 2 (TF-2) operating in the Right
flank of the Mannar- Vavuniya combined front continued their assaults in
the Palamoddai and Navvi area, pushiing their defence lines further
towards A-9 road.
At Palamoddai, troops attacked a terror bunker around
12.15 PM and claimed 3 terrorists had been wounded.
In the Navvi area, troops had several clashes with the
terrorists. Troops attacked 3 LTTE bunkers around 3.15 PM. Radio
monitoring units confirmed that 3 terrorists had been killed and 11
wounded in this incident. Also, troops lost one soldier. In a separate
confrontation occurred reported around 12.45 PM, troops over powered an
attempted terror attack. Radio monitoring units confirmed that one
terrorist had been wounded in this incident. In a similar confrontation
reported elsewhere, a soldier was killed around 2 PM. Also, another
soldier suffered injuries due to an explosion of Anti Personnel (AP)
mine in a separate incident reported around 10.35 AM.
Meanwhile, the Welioya front remained most active with
the pitched battles were going on right throughout the day in the
Mullaittivu forest.
Troops had two main clashes with the terrorists in the
North of Janakapura area during the day and claimed 4 terrorists had
been killed and another wounded.
Similarly, in the area North of Kiriibbanwewa troops
had several clashes with the terrorists. Troops claimed 2 terrorists had
been killed, 5 others wounded and 4 more either killed or wounded during
these clashes. Also, one soldier suffered injuries in an AP mine
explosion in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, troops engaged in mine clearing operations
in the area removed 81 AP mines 7 IEDs and 1 pressure mine. |
