Sri Lankan soldiers of Army 58 Division now engaged in the final phase of the counter terrorist offensive in the Island's Northern province continues to give heavy beating to the terrorists, reveal defence sources in the Puthukkuddyiruppu.

According to the sources, the soldiers continued to battle the terrorists in the hinterlands of Puthukkuddyiruppu yesterday (Mar 13), liberating more territory and pushing the terrorists to their last standoff.

Soldiers collected 18 bodies of LTTE cadres, 17 T-56 riffles, one light machine gun, and two radio communication sets following the clashes erupted yesterday in the Irnapali North, and Kombavil East areas, in Puthukkuddyiruppu. The Army sniper shooters deployed in the forward areas confirmed acquisition of 12 terrorist targets.

Meanwhile, the soldiers rescued 58 civilians under terrorists clutches from the Kombavil East area. Among the civilians, there were several LTTE cadres who identified themselves as the members of Makkal Padai terrorist band, said the sources.

The surrendered LTTE cadres told the soldiers that LTTE leaders are now ready to throw whoever who can grab a hand grenade to the battlefront to save their lives. According their accounts, the bodyguards of senior LTTE leaders daily abduct hundreds of civilians and forcing them to crash military courses with the intension of saving their leaders' lives until the last moment. They added that all the civilians as well as majority of junior LTTE cadres were hoping that the soldiers would rescue them soon before they are being victims of the terrorists.