2ND LEAD

7 STF troopers, 3 civilians injured in mortar fire on Vavunathivu SLA camp

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 February 2007, 11:51 GMT]
Seven Special Task Force (STF) troopers and three civilians were injured in a mortar attack launched from Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held areas Thursday around 9:40 a.m on the Vavunathivu Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, where a new STF camp was being constructed, SLA sources said. The SLA fired mortars back in retaliation.

The injured civilians were admitted to Batticaloa Teaching hospital while the injured troopers were flown in a special helicopter to Colombo National Hospital.

The police said that the LTTE launched the attack on the troopers who were constructing a new STF camp.

LTTE has not commented on the attack.

The SLA is engaged in mortar fire on the LTTE held areas from 4:00 a.m Thursday.

Residents from the LTTE held areas have been fleeing their homes in the last three months due to the continuing rocket and artillery attack by the SLA, civil sources in Batticaloa said.

Chronology: