Lankan troops unearth LTTE chief's luxury bunker

Colombo: An air-conditioned underground luxury bunker believed to have been the home of elusive LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran was unearthed by Sri Lankan troops in Mullaittivu, within a fortnight of seizing a similar facility in former rebel bastion of Kilinochchi.
The two-storied designer residential complex was located in a two-acre land full of coconut trees and well-fortified with all-round protection from adjacent gun positions and bunker locations, officials said today.
Sri Lankan Light Infantry troops captured the hideout in Mullaittivu yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.
The entire area was brought under security forces' control following heavy fighting between the troops and LTTE since wee hours of yesterday in which at least 20 Tiger rebels were killed, the Ministry said.
According to sources, the underground bunker is 50 ft deep, protected with a 3 ft thick layer of concrete.
The Air Force had previously bombed this location, which is at a spot 500 metres west of the Paranthan-Mullaititvu main road in general area of Piramanthalkulama.
The fully AC bunker comprised four furnished compartments and tiled floors, sources said adding, surveillance cameras were fitted at the entrance of the complex.
During search operations, troops have also found an oxygen plant inside a luxury compartment believed to be Prabakaran's room along with a M-16 machine gun and an insulin container. The compartment also had a deep-freezer.
"Four guard points were found located adjacent to the compartment which were manned by Prabakaran's personal bodyguards," a military official said.