Karuna faction spokesman Azaath Maulana told the Daily Mirror the 120 mm heavy weapon was destroyed by a deep penetration unit of the Karuna faction which infiltrated LTTE controlled areas in Iripetichenai, Batticaloa late Saturday night.
Mr. Maulana claimed the weapon was initially in Vakarai, Trincomalee when it was used to attack the army in Kallaru resulting in at least two mortars hitting a school in Somapura, about two kilometers away from the camp.
“We received information that the 120 mm weapon which can fire a distance between 6 and 9 km and several other weapons were being shifted to Iripetichenai from Vakarai on Friday. We deployed a deep penetration unit to the area and destroyed the weapon,” Mr. Maulana said.
The attack on the school and Kallar army camp led to heavy displacements with thousands of civilians in the area fleeing their homes to seek shelter in nearby Kantale. Many still remain in temporary shelters fearing to return back to their homes.
The Karuna spokesman said at least five LTTE cadres were also killed in the attack while a tractor used to transport the weapon was also destroyed but there was no independent verification of the claims while the LTTE had also not made any comments to that effect.
Meanwhile, the Media Centre for National Security said the LTTE had fired artillery and mortars towards the ‘Black bridge’ in Batticaloa early last morning forcing the army to retaliate using mortars and shells. There were no reports of casualties on both sides.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/12/25/front/3.asp)
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