Battle for Thoppigala erupts again

Fresh fighting erupted between government troops and the LTTE in the east as troops backed by air cover yesterday moved further into the Thoppigala jungles, overrunning four LTTE camps and killing at least 30 guerrillas, sources said. The LTTE used at least three of its suicide cadres to thwart the offensive on Friday and yesterday. Two soldiers were killed and 24 injured by last afternoon.

After a three-week lull, the army on Friday started its advance further into the Thoppigala area where the LTTE is believed to be holed up following the previous military operations in the eastern province.

Kfir jets bombed LTTE targets as ground troops moved into Akkaraithivu, Verpanveli, Mavadioddai and Ibbanwewa areas north west of Batticaloa town. The army recovered six medium purpose machine guns, four Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers, 21 T 56 assault rifles, live ammunition and anti-personnel mines among other items.

Eight bodies of the LTTE cadres were handed over to the ICRC at Mahaoya last evening, military sources said. LTTE military spokesman Rasiah Illanthiriyan told The Sunday Times that heavy fighting between the two sides began at 5.30 a.m on Friday and lasted until yesterday.

“There were casualties on both sides, but we do not have the details immediately”, he said. The fresh fighting had no impact on the government’s efforts to send back the civilians to the already cleared areas as the fighting was reported about 15 kilometres from the location where villagers were being resettled.

Guerrillas are believed to have infiltrated into the government-controlled areas from Thoppigala and planted claymore mines targeting the passenger train at Vakaneri last week while in a separate incident they planted a claymore mine killing an STF officer in Kokkadichcholai.

As fresh fighting erupted more details of last weekend’s fighting between the LTTE and the army west of Omanthai emerged. Army has listed 24 soldiers as Missing in Action, 15 killed while 82 were injured and 52 of them were still seeking treatment in hospital.