Troops on a fighting patrol operating ahead of the Forward Defence Line in the general area of Nagarkovil had come across a terrorist bunker on Friday around 9.45 a.m. and engaged it with small arms and machine gun fire, the government said.

Terrorists retaliated the fire and fled the area with casualties. Later troops directed mortar fire towards the fleeing terrorists. The bunker was destroyed killing four terrorists. No casualties were reported to troops.

In another incident, troops on a dominating patrol ahead of the Forward Defence Line in the general area of Nagarkovil had observed two female cadres moving towards Forward Defence Line on the same day around 12 noon. Troops fired at them with small arms. They confirmed both the terrorists were killed.

Naval troops on barrier patrol observed a suspicious boat in the general area off Vankalaipadu seas heading towards the land on Friday around 5.45 a.m.

On arrival of the Naval boat, the suspects on board had swum towards the land after abandoning the boat.

Following a subsequent search troops recovered one outboard motor, one fibre glass boat, 15 litres of kerosene oil and some items used for preparing vehicles such as 895 luminous bulbs, 92 tins of metal filler and 81 chemical tubes.

Troops on an ambush in the general area of Navaladi, about 5 kms northwest of Valachchenai observed a group of suspicious persons moving towards uncleared areas on an identified terrorist route on Saturday around 10.15 p.m. Troops engaged them with small arms fire. On a subsequent search troops recovered four dead bodies. Troops believe that these suspects were terrorist sympathisers. However, the Valachchenai Police is making inquiries.