Excavations have begun at an underground bunker in Pudukudiyirippu Manduvil, Mullaitivu, in search of a stock of weapons suspected to have been used by LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and other leaders of the organization.
The police and the Special Task Force Bomb Disposal Unit have begun excavation work on an order from the Mullaitivu Magistrate’s Court.
The entrances to this underground bunker, which is about 20 feet deep, have been destroyed due to attacks by security forces during the past war.
In 2009, this place was used as a main camp by the LTTE organization and the size of the camp is over two acres, according to the police.
This camp, which was built by occupying land owned by civilians, has been cleared of landmines and returned to the original owners after coming under the control of the security forces, and the underground bunker has been sealed with soil by the security forces to prevent outside parties from entering.
The police stated that at that time, various groups had also attempted to dig up the underground bunker on suspicion that gold stolen from civilians by the LTTE had been hidden there.
Excavation work is being carried out using backhoes under the guidance of the Special Task Force Bomb Disposal Unit, while archaeological officers and judicial officers are monitoring the work.