Troops on Kokavil outskirts recall memories
Army Troops, now on the outskirts of much-spoken
Kokavil, to the south of Kilinochchi bordering the parallel A-9 Highway
and old Murikandi-Kokavil Railway Station recall cherished memories of
their fallen War Heroes in the 1990s with honour, admiration and valour
and LTTE massacre on 'Yal Devi 'passenger train.
Photos in this story taken on Monday (29) show
vandalized ruins of the Murikandi-Kokavil railway station platform with
all its roof-sheets, iron rail tracks, and almost everything, belonging
to the railway station after those items were either damaged or removed
and finally taken away by jungle- based Tiger terrorists, to be used for
their criminal acts.
The packed south-bound Yal Devi train on its run from
northern Jaffna-Kankesanturai, on that fateful day, 19th January 1985
was blasted by Tiger terrorists, triggering a landmine when it was
nearing Murikandi-Kokavil stop. The train with thirteen carriages had
service and Police personnel as well as hundreds of civilians aboard who
were proceeding to Colombo on duty requirements and business.
Twenty-eight Army soldiers and eleven civilians lost
their precious lives, and a total of twenty soldiers, five civilians and
three Police Constables, suffered injuries due to this senseless
terrorist act. Nevertheless, the train driver, thanks to his presence of
mind and bravery pushed all the injured into the carriage, connecting
the diesel locomotive and speedily continued its journey, leaving all
other twelve compartments behind, since the train remained disconnected
as a result of the impact of the blast. However, the driver ensured all
casualties were delivered to the nearest hospital at the next railway
station, just a couple of minutes later. He still lives to relate his
saga.
Likewise, intensification of Tiger terrorism in the
early part of 1990 saw Officer Commanding at Kokavil Army camp,
Lieutenant S.U Aladeniya, was posthumously awarded the highest valour in
combat, the gallantry medal "Parama Weera Vibhushana" (PWV) for his
fight against Tiger terrorists valiantly without reinforcements until
his camp was destroyed by the terrorists on 11th July 1990. He received
orders to abandon the camp, but he refused to do so as the majority of
his troops were injured by then and completely immobile. He was the
first to be nominated for this prestigious PWV upon his supreme
sacrifice.
In fact, his camp was assigned the task of providing
security to the Rupavahini relaying tower in Kokavil (see photo). This
brave officer's troops fought continuously for fourteen days, despite
running short of food, water and ammunition. The fall of Kokavil in 1990
after fighting the Tigers to the last bullet gave terrorists a stimulus
and a propaganda mileage.
Almost two decades after the sacrifices made by those
brave soldiers of the Army, valiant troops of the 57 Division are now
consolidating control over the A-9 road which is within kissing distance
of the much-talked Kokavil centre.
Courtesy : army.lk
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