School teacher who fought for the LTTE

A 28-year-old government school teacher of a reputed institution in the embattled North, was amongst the four female cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam captured by the army, officials said on Wednesday.

'The army personnel were absolutely astounded to find that one of the four female Tiger terrorists captured on Tuesday in Kilinochchi after fierce clashes happened to be a government English Teacher of a reputed school,' the army said in a statement.

The Task Force-I troops of the Sri Lankan army battling for supremacy with tiger rebels in Vallayarkuttirukkumoddal, about 4 km to the east of the 7th Mile Post on the A-32 Road, close to Palavi area, captured four LTTE female fighters including Nilaveli, an English teacher.

'Ms Nilavelli (28) was coaching students in grade 6-10 classes until she joined LTTEs 'Saiver' Regiment to stop conscription of her beloved teenage brother and sister to the LTTE,' it said.

Graduated from the reputed Kopay College of Education, she has still been drawing her government salary and all other perks from the Department of Education in Killinochchi as a trained English teacher, the military said.

Two of the other three arrested female tigers have been identified as the 18-year-old Kilavedi and 19-year-old Thuruveli, the army said.

LTTE female combatants have earlier been found even in the rebel's Deep Penetration Unit though the specialised rebel wing is not much heard of now.