29 August 2006 (New Delhi)
Eight soldiers were killed and 28 were injured in fierce fighting around Sampur south of the restive east sri lankan district of Trincomalee." The troops were clearing areas around Thopur and Selvanagar so that Muslim refugees from the area could be resettled there. That is when the Tamil tiger terrorists started directing mortar, artillery and small arm fire towards us from their positions in Sampur and Eachchalampattu. The troops too have returned fire from our heavy guns positioned in the area. I cannot tell the exact number of dead terrorists. But we have inflicted heavy damage...at least a dozen of the terrorists." Brig Prasad Samarasinge told Al Jazeera from Colombo.
Thousands of Muslims from areas around Thopur and Selvanagar fled their homes four weeks ago after rebel fighters breached the Forward defence Line, FDL in Muttur and overran some army camps in the area. The rebels have however moved back to their positions behind the FDL since.
Meanwhile a pro-Rebel website reports that at least 20 civilians were killed and 26 more injured because of army shelling in rebel held Sampur area.
The website quoted sources in Sampur as saying that "army troops supported by heavy artillery, Air Force (SLAF) bombers and Navy (SLN) gunboats launched a two-pronged offensive at 3 a.m."
The LTTE's military spokesman called it a government offensive to take control of the strategic Sampur.
“They are continually shelling and bombing populated areas in our control. They have advanced and reached our lines.We are retaliating. Obviously they are trying to come into Sampur. They are trying to initiate a full-scale war. We have always been ready to defend our land and our people,” Irasiah Ilanthiraiyan, military spokesman for the Tamil Tiger rebels was quoted as saying by TamilNet.
Since the time fighting broke out in the East five weeks ago, the Trincomalee naval base has been vulnerable to shelling from Tiger-held Sampur.
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