STF operation in Mandur

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Special Task Force (STF) in Mandur, about thirty kilometers southeast of Batticaloa, launched an operation this morning around 11 a.m. in the direction of Vellaveli which is four kilometers north of their base.

The push towards Vellaveli was preceded by heavy shelling said sources in the area. Two women and two children were injured in the shelling. They were identified as Alahamma, 25, Kovinthamma, 27 and her two children Thanushan, 6 and Sinthuja 7.

The condition of Kovinthamma who is nine months pregnant is said to be serious.

The STF camp at Vellaveli was pulled out by the government in 1996 due to lack of manpower and the enhanced military capabilities of the Liberation Tigers in the western hinterland.

The STF had not returned from the Vellaveli area by late afternoon.

The LTTE had not offered any immediate resistance said sources who speculated that the STF might establish a camp in the area again.