2 SLA troopers injured in claymore blast in Vadamaraadchchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 May 2007, 19:00 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers were injured Wednesday around 9:15 a.m, when a claymore device hidden in an empty building along Vathiri-Udupiddi road in Navindil, Karaveddy in Vadamaraadchchi, exploded when the troopers tried to remove the device, sources in Vadmaraadchchi said. One of the troopers is seriously injured while the other sustained minor injuries.

The seriously injured trooper was rushed first to Manthikai government hospital and then transferred to Palaali military hospital.

The injured troopers were part of the street patrol unit operating along Vahiri-Uduppiddi road in Navindil.

SLA soldiers stopped all traffic along the road for nearly two hours and conducted a search operation in the area.

Meanwhile, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched heavy artillery fire Wednesday around 5:30 a.m on SLA Front Defence Line (FDL) positions in Maravanpilavu area in Thenmaraadchchi, sources in Maravnpilavu said.

Three SLA troopers were seriously injured in the shelling which lasted for about ten minutes.

The injured troopers were rushed to Palaali military hospital.

The LTTE had fired artillery shells Tuesday night on areas within the SLA High Security Zone in Palaali and military helicopters were seen flying about, residents in Palaali said.

No information is available on casualties.