Jaffna artillery duels continue

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 September 2000, 07:32 GMT]
Hundreds of civilians fled their homes near Jaffna town fearing heavy barrages by the Sri Lanka army since Saturday night towards areas held by the Liberation Tigers. More than fifty soldiers were wounded in a limited operation conducted by the army in the eastern and northeastern sectors of the Jaffna town against the positions of the LTTE sources in the north said. The operation commenced last night.

Some of the families which left their homes lying close to the Sri Lanka army's forward defence lines ahead of the LTTE's positions near Jaffna town sought refuge in the outer precincts of the Nallur Kandasamy temple.

The civilians who fled their homes today are mainly from Naayanmarkattu, Muththiraisanthai and Irupaalai sources said. Civilians in these areas were displaced in May this year due to the fighting near Jaffna town. Some of them had returned recently.

Meanwhile sources said that there appeared to be little direct engagements on the ground between troops of the LTTE and the SLA. The SLA was, however, liberally firing the newly acquired Multi-Barrelled Rocket Launchers from several directions towards the LTTE held areas the sources said.

The artillery units of the Tigers are retaliating selectively according to the sources.

The wounded soldiers are being taken to the military hospital at the Palaly base in tractors and vans residents of Jaffna town said.