Navy thwarts terror sea move; two LTTE boats destroyed-Vidattaltivu

SL navy patrol craft yesterday (July 28) destroyed two LTTE boats which had been moving towards Vidattaltivu area, on the North Western coast of the Island. According to the Naval sources six LTTE cadres were killed in the incident that had occurred around 4:30 last evening.

Navy patrol craft had initially detected a cluster of Indian trawlers poaching in the SL waters at a location 10 nautical Miles West of Vidattaltivu. When the navy craft approached the boat cluster two suspicious boats that were among the Indian boats have speeded themselves away from the Indian boats firing Rocket Propeller Grenades and Small arms at the Navy craft. After a short sea confrontation the navy sailors were able to destroy the terror boats. Naval sources said that there were four LTTE cadres in one boat and two in the other.

The North Western coast of the Island from North of Mannar to Elephantpass has become the main platform that enables the LTTE terrorists to continue their cross border activities, since they had lost control over the Eastern Waters. Also, SL Navy with its expanded capabilities has been able to deny the terror use of the Island's North Eastern waters almost completely.

During the recent past the LTTE terrorists have murdered many Indian fishermen and abducted many others. The terrorists are also known to have hijacked Indian fishing boats to transport their weapons and even sunk few boats that had refused to comply with their orders. However India, the world's largest democracy and the regional super power has been able to deny the terror use of her sea lines of communication to a larger extent with her recently increased sea patrols in the South Indian waters. At one time, the LTTE terrorists had been able to assassinate former Indian Prime Minister, Rajeev Ghandi by exploding one of their "suicide-girls" at a highly defended public gathering at Tamil Nadu.