Lankan security forces kill 75 LTTE militants

Colombo, Mar 30 : At least 75 militants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were killed in fierce battles as Sri Lankan Air Force fighter planes on Sunday attacked a key sea base of the rebel group in the island's beleaguered northern region.

In ground clashes, the army killed four LTTE rebels in the Navathkulam area of Vavuniya.

On Friday, the troops killed 10 militants when the security forces captured an area in Illantheyan in Mannar.

At least seven militants were killed in clashes with army in Kilaly and Muhamalai on the same day, according to the defence ministry.

In a separate incident, three LTTE rebels were killed in Nagarkovil in Jaffna region on Friday, the ministry claimed.

The state media reported that at least 30 rebels were killed in Pandivirichchan in Mannar on Friday when troops launched a fierce attack on the rebels.

According to the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), six militants were killed in Mannar and North-east Welioya fronts on Friday and other five militants were killed in Vilathikulam in Northern Vavuniya on the same day.

At least nine militants were killed in encounters in Kadupuvarankulam and northwest of Periyathampane in Vavuniya.

ANI