22 SLA killed in Paalaikkuzhi fighting - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 February 2008, 18:12 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Operations Command in Mannaar Friday said at least 22 Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed in two separate counter-attacks in Paalaikkuzhi, thwarting a fresh drive by the SLA in its attempt to move towards Adampan. More than 11 SLA soldiers were killed in direct combat which lasted for almost 8 hours. Later, the Tigers launched another attack on the SLA troops that had pulled back, killing 11 more soldiers in sniper fire in no-man area. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter landed at least six times to airlift the wounded soldiers.

Fighting raged from 9:00 a.m. till 3:30 when SLA attempted to advance through Paalaikkuzhi. Sustaining heavy casualties, the SLA hastedly abandoned the operation leaving behind military hardware at 3:30 p.m. Assault rifles, rounds and holsters were seized by the LTTE.

Tigers also mounted another attack on the withdrawing SLA soldiers in which 11 more soldiers were gunned down in no-man area between 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The SLA was mounting close range mortar attacks to enable their troops to locate their dead bodies.

Tiger casualties were minimum, no cadre was killed in two days fighting in Mannaar, according to the LTTE Operations Command.

In the meantime, SLA was forced to abandon another attempt to advance in Pa'ndivirichchaan on Friday after two hours of intense fighting from 1:30 p.m.

Four-hundred PK-LMG rounds, four RPG shells, and hundreds of various other rounds with holsters were seized by the Tigers from the SLA troops in Pa'ndivirichchaan.

The SLA had advanced into LTTE territory in Pa'ndivirichchaan Thursday afternoon following a two-hour clash. But, the SLA was pulled back when LTTE formations mounted a counter-attack that lasted for 15 minutes on Thursday. Three RPG shells, Two-hundred-and-thirty PK-LMG rounds and four-hundred AK rounds were seized by the Tigers. The SLA was pushed back at 2:30 p.m.

Another fighting was reported at Vi'laaththikku'lam on Thursday between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. The SLA has suffered casualties at Vi'laaththikku'lam, the Tigers said adding exact casualty figures were not available.

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