The Army shot dead K Nagendran of Kinnayady on 4 December. Unidentified gunmen killed MS Aliyar at Malligaikadu two days later. Razik Group members shot dead shepherd S Nanthakumar on 28 December. Another shepherd A Ramesh suffered serious injuries. The Razik Group alleges that they were LTTE cadre, but relatives say they had no links with the Tigers. According to reports Razik Group members have been absorbed into the armed forces and are part of the National Auxiliary Force.
The LTTE attacked a military patrol near Batticaloa lagoon on 3 December and killed two soldiers. Policeman MM Anubar was killed by gunmen at Sainthamaruthu on 6 December. Six days later, alleged LTTE Pistol Group members shot dead Vavuniya student S Jegatheeswaran in Batticaloa town.
The Tigers launched an attack on Tamil group PLOTE’s checkpoint in Vavunativu on 13 December killing V Anpalagan and two other PLOTE members. Civilian M Sivakumar was also killed. People entering Batticaloa town from LTTE-controlled areas, west of the Batticaloa lagoon, pass this checkpoint.
On the same day, eleven Tigers were killed when the LTTE attacked Kirimichchai Army camp in Vaharai, north of Valaichenai. Three soldiers died and 19 were injured. Earlier in the month, an Army officer warned civilians in Vaharai that failure to provide information about the Tigers may result in indiscriminate attacks on villages.
Further south in Amparai District, a motor cycle bomb at Kalmunai town, seriously wounded seven civilians and four policemen on 8 December. Seven shops were damaged in the attack. Thirukovil Grama Sevaka (Village Headman) Markandu Thangarajah was shot dead on 13 December. He had earlier been a member of Tamil group EPRLF, which is currently fighting against the LTTE.
In Trincomalee District, the Tigers overran a military camp at Thuvarankadu on 3 December killing five Navy personnel and wounding four policemen. A Sub-Inspector and two policemen were killed in a Tiger attack on a checkpoint at Thoppur on 9 December. Civilian Mohamed Sadik was also killed. A sailor was killed and three were wounded in an LTTE attack on 1 January on Nilaveli naval base, north of Trincomalee town.