COLOMBO: At least 13 soldiers and 200 Liberations Tigers of Tamil Eclam (LTTE) rebels were killed in renewed fighting for the control of the strategic Elephant Pass army camp on Sunday, military officials said here Monday.
Another 45 soldiers were wounded in the battle, the officials said.
An estimated 8,000 govt troops commenced their “final push” for recapturing the camp on Sunday with the imposition of an indefinite curfew in Jaffna and Killinochi districts under phase two of “operation Balavegaya (strike force).
The second phase of the operation is aimed at relieving the besieged army camp after spending most of the past week to rest, regroup and collect reinforcements. The past week also allowed militants to strengthen their defenses.
A least 800 soldiers are trapped inside the besieged camp that dominates the only road and causeway connecting the Jaffna Panisula with the mainland.
Military officials said troops inside the camp successfully repulsed a major attack on Saturday night when a rebel suicide mission attacked the camp with armored plated bulldozers and vehicles loaded with explosives.
An estimated 150 rebels, including one of their leaders identified as “Mama”, was killed in the battle in which seven troopers were killed and 13 injured.
Troops recovered 41 bodies of the rebels along with 40automatic weapons, the officials said.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 2, 1991
