As Eelam war IV reaches a decisive phase, great challenges lie ahead for the military, which has reached the perimeters of the “no fire zone” that has been turned into a battleground by the LTTE.
The LTTE that has lost a major part of its terrain in Puthukkudiyiruppu, has now moved into the demarcated civilian “no fire zone” setting up its artillery in the area as troops forge towards this area where about 50,000 civilians are reportedly trapped, according to government estimates.
Some 59,000 people have already fled the area since January, the government says.
Troops are slowing down their entry into the “no fire zone” because of the large number of civilians who are housed in camps along the zone which is a 12 Km stretch of land extending from Puthumatallan to Vellamullivaikal being separated by the Nanthikadal lagoon.
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| Anti personnel mines and suicide kits recovered in Puthukkudiyiruppu. Pix by Priyantha Hewage |
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The military quoting civilians who have fled the clutches of the LTTE says, guerillas who are fighting to hold on to their last remaining terrain, have launched an accelerated forced recruitment drive of civilians to be deployed in the frontlines.
During the past few days pitched battles were fought in areas of Puthukkudiyiruppu, Iranapalai and Puthumatallan where the LTTE deployed waves of guerrillas in an attempt to breach the defence lines. The LTTE guerillas reportedly fired 152 mm and 122 mm artillery at troop positions from the “no fire zone”, according to the military.
The military has not ruled out the possibility of Tigers staging mass suicide attacks along with synchronized attacks from civilian populated areas if troops move into the “no fire zone” resulting in large scale deaths. It is also learnt that the LTTE is consolidating its positions inside the “no fire zone”.
According to the military, the past few days have seen a steady increase in the number of civilians forcibly recruited to carryout attacks on the troops and in the number of guerillas infiltrating civilian groups fleeing the area.
Last week it came to light that the LTTE despite its days being numbered possesses Surface to Air (SAM) missiles. Last Wednesday morning, LTTE guerillas fired two SAM missiles from the ‘No Fire Zone’ targeting two Bell 212 air force helicopters that landed in Puthukkudiyiruppu to evacuate wounded soldiers.
However, the chopper had detected the two SAM’s that were fired and countered the attack with flares which prevented the missiles homing in on the target. The two choppers reportedly landed safely in the Anuradhapura Air Force base.
Sri Lanka Air Force officials suspect that these missiles were activated from within the “no fire zone”. They believe it could have been from the location where LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran once stayed and where the LTTE had installed its air defence system and anti aircraft guns.
There have been previous instances where these missiles were launched from the LTTE leader’s hideouts.
Recent intelligence reports have indicated that the LTTE still possesses a Zlin-Z143 light aircraft which is believed to be hidden in a secret location in the “no fire zone”. The military believes that this aircraft might be used by the cornered LTTE for a Kamikaze style suicide operation to target a strategic position in the south.
At present the LTTE is confined to a land stretch of less than 1.5 square kilometres excluding the 20 square kilometre of the “no fire zone”. Both the 58 Division and the 53 Division are carrying out operations about three kilometres away from the Nanthikadal lagoon stretch that separates the mainland.
The LTTE is reportedly displaying stiff resistance to the advancing troops even attempting to infiltrate and recapture troop defence lines.
At about 2 a.m. last Wednesday, around 150 guerillas launched a massive attack to recapture Iranapalai which housed the LTTE espionage headquarters. At first the Tigers captured a 400 M stretch of the defence line.
The battle continued for several hours until troops from the Commando and Special Forces attached to the 58 Division repulsed the Tiger counterattack and re-established their defences by evening. According to intercepted LTTE communication, many Tiger guerillas including four LTTE middle rung leaders namely Vardhan Anna, Sooriyan, Kadal and Eeyavan perished in the confrontation.
It has been revealed that the LTTE’s latest strategy is to push back the troops towards the West of the Puthukkudiyiruppu - Puthumatallan road. Their aim is reportedly to secure the said road that links with the ‘no fire zone’ through a causeway across the lagoon, thus preventing civilians fleeing across the channel.
The 58 Division has now advanced towards the Puthukkudiyiruppu township and the 581 brigade has severed the connecting roads from Puthukkudiyiruppu to Puthumatallan.
On the same day the 53 Division operating east of Puthukkudiyiruppu faced a similar situation when the LTTE attempted to overwhelm the troop defence lines. The attempts were foiled and the 53 Division and the Task Force 8 troops have now advanced further eastwards from the Puthukkudiyiruppu junction.
The troops are now in the process of reaching the edge of the Puthukkudiyiruppu built up area which will result in, the LTTE losing almost all its land links.
Last week the 55 Division advancing southwards fought pitched battles in Puthumatallan area as troops overran three trench cum earth bunds built by the guerrillas. The troops are now confronted by a fourth earth bund as they draw closer towards the “no fire zone”. Intelligence reports have indicated that the LTTE has taken measures to mine the possible entry point that leads to the rebel dominated area to slow down troops advance.
The main threat to the 55 Division troops is infiltration attempts by the LTTE via the sea. In the past few days the army killed many guerrillas who used water scooters and boats to infiltrate into the narrow stretch of land along the coast.
On Tuesday, troops of the 58 Division captured a safe house of Pottu Amman south of Iranapalai. According to the military, the safe house was used by both Pottu Amman and Kapil Amman as an operation centre.
Pottu Amman who is heading the LTTE intelligence wing and Sea Tiger Leader Soosai are reported to be playing a major role in planning counter operational strategies against advancing troops. According to recent intelligence reports top LTTE leaders have now come out of their hideouts and have been seen in the “no fire zone”.
Pottu Amman, who at one point used four vehicles, including a white Land Cruiser, now reportedly goes about on a motorcycle disguised as a civilian, for fear of attack from theArmy’s Deep Penetration Unit. His driver who was recently nabbed by the army has confessed that he now only uses the vehicle that is sent by Prabhakaran’s personal security, when he needs to meet the leader.
Civilians who have crossed over to government- controlled areas have reportedly confessed to troops that Prabhakaran and his elder son Charles Anthony are still inside the no fire zone and have been seen mingling with civilians .
It has been revealed that other top level Tiger leaders have also fled into the civilian zone as they have lost control of areas that were previously under them. Meanwhile the 57 Division, Task Force 2, Task Force 3, Task Force 4 and the53 Division are conducting search and clearing operations in liberated areas.
This week the LTTE once again proved that they could take the battle outside the theater of conflict as they face major drawbacks in the Mullaitivu front. Last Tuesday, five farmers were killed while two sustained injuries in Serunuwara and on Wednesday four farmers were killed in Welikanda, Polonnaruwa.
In the forthcoming days the influx of civilians from the “no fire zone” controlled by the LTTE is set to increase . On Friday a record 2,000 civilians fled the area.
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