STF launched operation against the Karuna faction

Source from Batticaloa say the Special Task Force (STF) has launched an operation to arrest cadres of the Tamil Makkal Vidudalai Pulligal (TMVP), a LTTE breakaway faction led by ‘Colonel’ Karuna, in possession of weapons in public places in Batticaloa. According to Senior Superintendent of Police H.M.D. Herath, a TMVP cadre carrying two hand grenades was arrested when the suspect attempted to go through a check point manned by the STF in Puthur.

Meanwhile, five cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were killed during clashes with the security forces (SFs) at Kuduruvitankulam and Periyathampanai in the Vavuniya district and Parappakandal in the Mannar district on last Saturday attack, military sources conformed.

Elsewhere, on yesterday, troops retaliated and killed one LTTE cadre in the Thampanai area and recovered one T-56 weapon from the incident site.

LTTE cadres fired three mortars at Ethawetunaweva Sinhala village in the Welioya defence colony area of the same district, according to military sources. However, only one mortar exploded and no casualties were reported.

Army troops consolidating positions in the Silavathurai area of Mannar are reported to have captured a Sea-Tiger (sea wing of the LTTE) base. Three boats, a large stock of anti-personnel mines and detonators were recovered by the troops.