by Sirimevan Kasturiarachchi

The LTTE's Akkaraipattu leader Kuileepan was seriously injured in clash with STF personnel, who intervened to prevent him and his men from abducting tsunami displaced children from a temporary shelter yesterday (28), STF sources in the Ampara said.

Kuileepan who was seriously injured was admitted to the Kalmunai hospital while several of his armed cadres and four STF personnel were also injured in the clash. They have been admitted to the Akkaraipattu hospital.

Four LTTE cadres had gone to a temporary shelter for tsunami victims at Akkaraipattu yesterday around 2.30 p.m. and attempted to abduct three children when the STF personnel, who were providing security for the shelter, had obstructed them and arrested one. The other three had fled the scene but returned later with about 40 armed LTTE cadres led by Kuileepan. They had attacked the STF in a bid to rescue their cadre. However, the STF had counterattacked and men on both sides had sustained injuries in the clash.

STF Commandant DIG Nimal Lewke said that Kuileepan and his cadres had on several earlier occasions attempted to abduct children from the camps set up for tsunami affected people and had clashed with the STF who prevented children being abducted. He said additional STF and police personnel were rushed to the area after the incident and security in the temporary shelters and the Akkaraipattu area has been beefed up. He also said the law would be enforced strictly to the letter of the law even for the LTTE cadres in the area.