Colombo, March 28: At least 31 Tamil Tigers and six soldiers were killed and over 30 rebels injured in fierce fighting between Sri Lankan security forces and the guerrillas in the northern combat zone as the troops repulsed a series of LTTE attempts to breach their forward defence lines.
Successive bids by LTTE to launch concentrated assaults
at the military forward defences north of Iranapalai and east
of Puthukudiyirippu were neutralised, the army said today
citing battlefront sources.
It said sporadic fighting and small-scale door-to-door
operations are continuing in the area targeting rebel pockets
and resistance positions.
In Puthukkudiyirippu and Karaiyamullivaikal, troops
advanced into rebel territory killing 13 Tigers and injuring
19 others, security sources said. Six soldiers also lost their
lives in intense fighting in Puthukkudiyirippu.
During subsequent search operations conducted in the
region, troops recovered bodies of six LTTE rebels, four
T-56 assault rifles, two hand-grenades and a rebel boat.
At least 12 rebels were killed and 15 others seriously
injured following fierce fighting between troops and LTTE
north of Iranapalai yesterday, the military said.
Meanwhile, 380 more civilians fled LTTE areas to take
shelter in government-held territory, officials said.
Bureau Report
