Attacks inside Jaffna peninsula

As the fighting in Vanni intensified, attacks against Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in the Jaffna peninsula have also increased, reports said.

In the past two weeks there were three separate attacks against SLA troopers deep inside the government-controlled peninsula.

On Wednesday September 4, two claymore mines were exploded targeting Sri Lankan military personnel.

The first attack in the afternoon targeted a Buffel Armored Personnel Carrier killing one soldier and injuring three Kapoothu area.

The second one, just hours later, targeted an SLA vehicle on the Point Pedro- Chaavakachcheari main road. The blast at Viraali, located on the boundary between Vadamaraadchi and Thenmaraadchia, killed a soldier and injured others.

The SLA launched an extensive cordon and search Thursday from 7:00 a.m, in the area north of A9 road from Nu’naavil junction, enclosing Madduvil, Charasaalai, Kappoothu, Kalvayal and Kerudaavil.

Vehicles were not permitted to use Point Pedro-Chaavakachcheari road from Thursday morning in the search which continued until afternoon. Even NGO demining workers and governments officials on their way to work were not allowed by the SLA either to enter or exit the areas under its cordon and search. The search was concentrated particularly in the mangrove land stretch between Charasaalai and Kapoothu areas.

A week earlier, on Saturday August 23, a group of unidentified armed men opened fire and hurled hand grenades on the SLA camps in Yaakkarai and Kalikai areas in Karaveddi in Vadamraadchi killing two soldiers and seriously injuring two.

The attack continued for 15 minutes in which heavy gunfire and explosions were heard, Karaveddi sources told TamilNet.

The two injured SLA soldiers are admitted to Palaali Military Hospital.

Thousands of SLA troops deployed in the above area launched a cordon and search operation, immediately after the attack, that continued till Sunday evening.

Residents of these areas continue to remain in their homes while an atmosphere of fear and tension prevailed.

In addition to attacks on military personnel, there have also been attacks on electricity transformers in the peninsula.

Unidentified armed men opened rapid fire Monday August 27, during curfew hours on an electricity transformer at Kachchaay, Kodikaamam in Thenmaraadchi causing damages to it.

Electricity supply was cut off in the area and SLA launched a cordon and search Tuesday in the area, covering the triangular area between Kodikaamam, Chaavakachcheari and Kachchaay.

The search began Tuesday early morning and lasted until evening. Residents were not allowed to leave their homes the whole day and subjected to thorough search and checking.