Day by day, conflicting versions are emerging from Sri Lanka about LTTE chief V Prabhakaran.
Sri Lankan Army chief Sarath Fonseka on Saturday said there were strong indications that elusive Prabhakaran was injured. He also claimed that the military had reduced the rebel strength to half.
"We have a strong feeling that he is injured and nothing much is known about him after he paid homage to (political advisor) Anton Balasingham on December 14," the General told journalists on Saturday.
Fosenka said that unlike other occasions when reports of the 53-year-old LTTE chief being killed proved to be false, intelligence reports were this time expressing doubts about his being "fully fit" and the morale of the Tamil Tigers, too, appeared to be shaken.
"We have weakened the LTTE by 50 per cent or more and we are confident we can go that extra mile this year," Fosenka said, adding he wanted to "finish" the task before he retires by the end of this year.
Earlier, reports claimed that the underground bunker where Prabhakaran was hiding during a raid injured him.
The LTTE, however, had denied reports that its chief was injured in the attack.
"We have received reports that Prabhakaran may not be fully fit and that is the reason for his staying indoors," Fonseka said.