Mar 23, Colombo: Sri Lankan Army troops inched forward into the Separatist LTTE territory yesterday in heavy fighting that killed 48 Tigers and 6 soldiers, the military said. Scores of Tiger cadres and 29 soldiers were injured in the battles.

The Army after several confrontations took complete control of the area of Parayakulam and Illanthaven areas of Mannar on Saturday (22), official reports said. Twenty five Tigers and two soldiers were killed when the military took control of the small but strategic territory. Extended search and clear operations in the area recovered eleven LTTE bodies including three of female cadres.

Confrontations between the troops and groups of Tigers in the areas southwest of Madhu and Kallikulam in Vavuniya killed 13 Tigers Saturday. Clearing operations following the confrontation at Kallikulam recovered seventy anti personnel mines and four booby traps, the military reported.

Clashes in Welioya area killed 14 rebels and three soldiers, the military said in a statement. Eleven soldiers were also injured in the confrontation. A soldier was killed and two were injured Saturday during a confrontation in Jaffna.

Independent verification of death toll is not possible as the access to battle fields is restricted to media.