Fifteen dead bodies have been found at a house where several explosions took place in Kalmunai Friday night, the Police Media Spokesman stated. Among them are bodies of 6 males, 3 females and 6 small children.
Another five people injured in the explosions have been admitted to the hospital.
Meanwhile two gunmen and a civilian caught in the crossfire during the shootout between the terrorists and the security forces were also killed, the Sri Lanka Army Media Spokesman said.
Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel and Army troops were engaged in a gun battle with an armed group in the Saindamarudu area in Kalmunai last night. The security forces had come under gun attack when they attempted to search the house.
The Army said the troops, together with Police personnel in the general area of Nintavur, Sahindamaradu evening are now conducting clearing operations, having cordoned the entire area after the shootout.
According to the Army, the troops on intelligence tip-off given by the Police were proceeding towards to check a safe house of suspected terrorists when they triggered three explosions and began firing towards the troops. Troops retaliated and raided the safe house where a large cache of explosives had been stored.
One civilian died in the crossfire and 3-4 persons were reportedly injured. At the same time, two of those gunmen with one weapon, suspected to be from an Islamic terrorist organization were killed during the retaliation.
Army says that there could be one or more suicide bomber inside the safe house either killed or in hiding. However, troops were unable to storm the place in the dark and due to heavy concentration of civilians’ houses around, according to Major General Aruna Jayasekara, Commander, Security Forces – East.
Meanwhile, troops at Nintavur detected a brand new unregistered van, suspected to be belonging to the National Towheed Jamat’s leader, Saharan’s brother-in-law, named Niyas. Following detection of two ID cards, initial reports confirmed the said van had been bought in Akkaraipattu on cash on 19 April 2019.
At the moment, Army troops have cordoned the entire area and are conducting clearing operations with the support of sister services, STF and Policemen in affected areas, according to the Military Spokesman, Brigadier Sumith Atapattu.
Combined troops have recovered explosives, detonators, gelignite sticks, acid bottles, detonation cords, ISIS flags and backdrop, suicide kits, military uniforms, etc from another safe house in Sammanthurai area earlier in the evening.
Those dead gunmen are yet to be identified and clearing operations are continuing.
