 News
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Panic in Kalpitiya over reports of LTTE boats An air, sea and ground search operation was launched around Kalpitiya yesterday after fishermen spotted what they suspected to be a flotilla of LTTE boats heading closer to the shore on Friday, a senior police officer said. Senior Superintendent Roshan Fernando said 12 boats had been seen by the fishermen close to the Uchchamunai island in Kalpitiya. Police were carrying out a search operation to check whether LTTE suspects had landed and infiltrated the villages. He said Navy patrol craft and helicopters were also involved in the search. Last afternoon, villagers had panicked after hearing gun shots on the beach. They feared that Tigers had entered the area, but subsequently police confirmed that it was the navy that had fired. Meanwhile, the Navy claimed it destroyed a Tiger guerrilla boat heading towards the Kankesanthurai harbour on Friday night. An official said the Navy had spotted the boat around 9.50 p.m in the Thondamanaru area and ordered it to stop. As the vessel proceeded, the Navy opened fire and destroyed it. In another incident, LTTE suspects are reported to have fired at a group of soldiers clearing a road at Kataparichchan in Trincomalee and the troops fired back, provoking a battle for about 20 minutes. Incidents were also reported from Chenkaladi, Mannar and Trincomalee. A suspected LTTE pistol gang member was shot dead on Friday by troops providing security to a Hindu festival when he tried to escape in a motorcycle after hurling a grenade, the military said. Also on Friday, a sailor and an LTTE cadre were killed in Mannar after a gun battle. An LTTE suspect who tried to throw a grenade at troops at Nilaweli was shot dead by Navy personnel.
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