Another 3000 civilians rescued, LTTE intensifies violence against civilians....

Another 3000 civilians rescued, LTTE intensifies violence against civilians to win international sympathy


SRI LANKA-Sri Lankan soldiers engaged in the world's largest hostage rescue mission yesterday (Apr 26) freed 3254 civilians from LTTE clutches.
According to the defence.lk special correspondent on the field, troops of 58 Division rescued 3147 people when they liberated the Valayarmadam coastal village. The group included a large number of LTTE child soldiers. Separately another 107 civilians were rescued by 53 Division soldiers now operating in the Puthukudduyiruppu East area.
Civilians have told the soldiers that the terrorist are now forcibly pushing the rest of the hostages to the Vellamullivaikkal area, where their leaders are currently hiding.
"Tigers set fire to huts where the people have been sheltered, and lead them at gun point to the South before the Army comes", a rescued civilian told our correspondent.
"If you chose to stay, they (LTTE) fire shells at you, and then they take photographs of the bodies and blame Sri Lanka army for the crime... this is the game that they have been playing for long time", the civilian further said.
Citing the civilians our correspondent said that the terrorists have intensified violence against the civilians with a renewed hope of survival.
"When we asked them (LTTE) why were they killing their own people, they told us that some foreign countries are coming to rescue them. They said we have to die for them or else those countries might not help them", another civilian was cited.
Meanwhile, troops of 58 Division have continued their push towards the last LTTE hideout. Intercepted LTTE radio transmission revealed 12 terrorists had been killed and 27 others injured in yesterday's fighting-defence.lk