Sea Tiger clash

THE Sri Lankan Navy attacked two Sea Tiger boats near Kachchaitivu 26 miles north-west of Mannar Island on 7 October. A boat was sunk and fifteen Sea Tigers were reported killed. Security forces say that supplies to the LTTE continue to arrive from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

The Navy intercepted three other boats with medicines and other material near Pallimunai on Mannar Island on 5 October. Three Tiger suspects in the boats were arrested, but four others jumped into the sea and escaped.

Eight policemen were killed and 14 others were wounded in a LTTE attack on a police post at Vankalai, seven miles south-east of Mannar town. Following the attack, soldiers ran amok attacking civilians. Three fish huts were burned and fishing boats were damaged.

Police attacked 12 people who came from LTTE-controlled areas in the Vanni on 9 October, to Pallimunai. The police also threatened Catholic priest Sebastian Croos and forcibly removed his identity card. Following a complaint by Bishop Rayappu Joseph, Mannar Army commander Brig. Rohan Ranasinghe assured that people from the Vanni will be allowed at Pallimunai. Requests have also been made to the military to allow a boat service between Mannar Island and Thevanpitty. The service between the island and Vidataltivu has been suspended following military operations.


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