Advancing troops of the army’s 58 Division yesterday recovered an improvised armour plated six wheel truck used in the recent past to transport Tiger leader Prabhakaran and other key members across uncleared areas. The vehicle had been designed to resemble an armoured car used by the troops but failed to achieve its objective in the end military sources said. Before the Tigers abandoned this vehicle they had removed the gun mounted on it and used it to attack the advancing troops. The 25 metre long vehicle had been built with one-inch-thick steel plates.

"The front of the vehicle very much resembles a modern electric train and possesses a powerful communication antennae sprouting out from in front of the driver’s seat.

According to military sources Prabhakaran and the handful of his confidantes have fled Valayanmadam and are now holed up in the Irattaiwaikkal area.