SLA reconnaissance unit repulsed in Muhamalai, 5 killed - Ilanthirayan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 October 2006, 13:01 GMT]
A unit of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers, on a frontal reconnaissance mission, moved into the LTTE territory across Muhamalai Forward Defence Line (FDL) Sunday morning around 6:30 a.m., LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said. The SLA unit was repulsed into no-go zone, with at least five dead bodies, and the unit retreated leaving behind 3 weapons, he said. Meanwhile, residents in Jaffna said the SLA intensified Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) artillery fire towards LTTE territory Sunday evening.

At least five SLA soldiers were killed in action, according to details from the Northern Front, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.

The SLA soldiers had left behind three T-56 type-2 rifles.

Meanwhile, civilians who recently began resettling in southern Thenmaradchi, in Sri Lanka Army controlled Jaffna, have started fleeing towards temples and schools seeking safety.