Dawn clash in Delft, six killed

At least six Sea Tigers were killed when two boats carrying LTTE cadres made an attempt to land in the Delft Island in Jaffna early yesterday as the Navy stepped up patrolling in the coastal areas.

The two craft were spotted off the Delft Island by a naval patrol vessel around 5.30 a.m. and were engaged by gun boats, a Navy spokesman said.

The boats had been coming from the direction of the Pooneryn area from where the LTTE often operates.

The attack came hours after LTTE boats attempting to enter the Point Pedro area were destroyed off the Nagarkovil area on Friday evening, according to the Navy.

The Navy claimed that at least three Sea Tiger boats were destroyed and at least 20 Tigers killed while the other boats were also believed to have been damaged.

But, the LTTE claimed its cadres had not suffered any casualties and they had damaged two Dvora craft.

The Navy spokesman said there were at least 15 boats heading northwards and among them were three vessels used by suicide cadres.

Meanwhile, 29 suspected LTTE cadres have been arrested in the close vicinity of the Kalpitiya Navy camp during a cordon-and-search operation. They were arrested at a fishing hut and have been identified as residents of Jaffna and Batticaloa.

Four more suspected LTTE cadres were also arrested in Nawakkadu in Kalpitiya on Friday evening as they were travelling in a white van.

The suspects were handed over to the Kalpitiya police for further questioning.