Rebellion crushed in the NFZ?

Serious disturbances have been observed in the NFZ since last afternoon (Apr 8) with loud explosions and machine gun fire have been heard in the Ampalawanpokkanai area, defence.lk special correspondent on the field reveal.

Sri Lanka Army units deployed just 500- 400 m short of the LTTE built earth bund on the border of the NFZ in Ampalavanpokkanai West, reported sighting of a large group of people gathering in the NFZ during the afternoon hours before the explosions and shooting began. The sources suspect a serious clash between the LTTE terrorists and their civilian hostages held in the zone.

" Troops have observed something similar to organized gathering of people in the area in front of them following an announcement made to the LTTE terrorists to release the civilian hostages and to lay down their arms", said our correspondent .

"Then, they have heard gunshots and explosions in the NFZ, following which they too have been kept on full alert", he added.

Ampalavanpokkanai is the closest area to the Army forward boundary to which the civilians can access via the causeway, if allowed by the terrorists. Troops have been manning their defences few hundred meters short of NFZ border there, in order to provide the maximum protection to the civilians escaping the terror clutches.

Meanwhile, troops deployed in the area rescued a group 118 civilians from the LTTE clutches during the morning hours yesterday. The group included 51 children, 36 women and 31 men.

According to our correspondent, LTTE has been busy with building command bunkers and other fortifications on the NFZ border close to the causeway, knowing the possibility that civilians may escape their rule in large numbers from this area.

"It is likely that LTTE is going to concentrate all its remaining field leaders and best fighting cadre in this area", he said.

Meanwhile, intelligence sources revealed that Pottu Amman has ordered his so-called police chief Ilango send all his cadre to the frontline.

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