Colombo:
Sri Lanka troops fought pitched battle with the LTTE and captured an underground bunker suspected to have been a medical centre of the militants as it pushed ahead in the rebel-held territory to wrest control of Tamil Tiger stronghold of Kilinochchi, officials said on Sunday.
Reports of fighting have increased in recent months amid government's declaration to crush the LTTE by the end of the year.
Troops from the 57 division launched attacks against the LTTE fighters in the area of Akkarayankulam in Kilinochchi, causing heavy damages to the rebels on Saturday, the Sri Lankan military said.
Meanwhile, the 58 Division troops advanced ahead in Kalmadu area in Kilinochchi and captured a LTTE ",strong point", on Saturday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.
Heavy damage was also reported to the rebels in operations conducted by the army in the area of Punchikulam and Angampamoddai in Kilinochchi yesterday, it said.
Meanwhile, troops attacked a LTTE underground bunker in Andankulam and brought it under its control on Saturday, the official said.
Troops believe the bunker could well have been a medical centre to cater to their injured as a search recovered field dressings and a large quantity of bottles of saline and accessories required for dispensing from the spot, the MCNS said.
The LTTE on Sunday accused the government troops of shelling a hospital inside rebel-held territory. The pro-Tiger website Tamil.net said artillery shells fell close to the Kilinochchi hospital and destroyed part of the hospital.
",At least 170 patients, including 60 warded inpatients with the staff of the Kilinochchi hospital narrowly escaped Saturday evening an artillery attack launched by the Sri Lanka army,", Tamil.net said on Sunday.
Reports of fighting have increased in recent months amid government's declaration to crush the LTTE by the end of the year.
Troops from the 57 division launched attacks against the LTTE fighters in the area of Akkarayankulam in Kilinochchi, causing heavy damages to the rebels on Saturday, the Sri Lankan military said.
Meanwhile, the 58 Division troops advanced ahead in Kalmadu area in Kilinochchi and captured a LTTE ",strong point", on Saturday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.
Heavy damage was also reported to the rebels in operations conducted by the army in the area of Punchikulam and Angampamoddai in Kilinochchi yesterday, it said.
Meanwhile, troops attacked a LTTE underground bunker in Andankulam and brought it under its control on Saturday, the official said.
Troops believe the bunker could well have been a medical centre to cater to their injured as a search recovered field dressings and a large quantity of bottles of saline and accessories required for dispensing from the spot, the MCNS said.
The LTTE on Sunday accused the government troops of shelling a hospital inside rebel-held territory. The pro-Tiger website Tamil.net said artillery shells fell close to the Kilinochchi hospital and destroyed part of the hospital.
",At least 170 patients, including 60 warded inpatients with the staff of the Kilinochchi hospital narrowly escaped Saturday evening an artillery attack launched by the Sri Lanka army,", Tamil.net said on Sunday.
