LTTE CADRES ENCIRCLED

The advancing military surrounded the last LTTE held area, outside the ‘no fire zone,’ yesterday, trapped a large number of Tiger cadres within it and launched a massive onslaught on them, military sources said.

Troops of the 58 Division captured the last junction connecting the ‘no fire zone’ –Pachchapulmudai -- and the less than one square kilometre patch of jungle in Puthukkudiyiruppu East, confining the LTTE within the area.

“We believe that several hundred LTTE cadres and several senior LTTE leaders are trapped in this area without any supplies,” said a senior military officer yesterday.

With the capture of Pachchapulmudai, troops of the 58 Division and Task Force 8 linked up just south of Pachchapulmudai completely encircling the remaining LTTE held areas.

The officer said that since the previous night troops had been calling on the remaining LTTE cadres to surrender through radio communications. But there had been no response so far. During the past few days a fierce battle has been in progress in the area.

With the capture of this crucial junction, fighting between the military and the LTTE has intensified and heavy casualties have been reported by the LTTE, according to this officer.

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