A chance detection of an LTTE suicide cadre at Ondachchi, Kalawanchikudi yesterday morning by TMVP cadres prompted him to trigger a blast.

The blast killed two TMVP cadres loyal to Pilleyan. The TMVP, which recently secured political recognition, is the political wing of the Karuna faction. The military said that it was not clear who the assassin’s original target had been. Karuna’s men had challenged him on seeing his suspicious behaviour, the military said.

A senior police officer said the assassin had been probably roaming the area with a view to taking what he called an opportunity target.

He would have targeted a military vehicle or a roadside check point, he said, asserting that they expected stepped up LTTE activity ahead of the scheduled local government election in the Batticaloa District.