In an operation similar to the one conducted in the East with the support of breakaway LTTE cadres headed by Karuna, the government is now using Vanni Tiger cadres to quell a fresh attempt to revive the LTTE.

Although the circumstances under which the Vanni cadres are deployed are very much different from the eastern operation, the on-going `police work` has produced positive results.

A small group of ex-LTTE cadres, including battle hardened ones are now working with the Northern Range Police to apprehend hard core LTTE cadres taking refuge among civilians accommodated at welfare centres and ascertain exact involvement of those who had already acknowledged their role in the organisation as well as `sleeping` cadres.

An authoritative security official told The Island that ex-LTTE cadres were also involved in the on-going search for buried arms, ammunition and equipment in the North and East, including mine fields.

Responding to our queries, the official said that Vanni cadres would not have thrown their weight behind them (the police) unless they were convinced of the government`s ability to eradicate the LTTE and restore peace in all parts of the country.

He said that about two dozen LTTE cadres had been involved in counter-insurgency operations.

The police said that the LTTEcadres had helped investigators to identify over 50 LTTE cadres, who covered up their exact role in the organisation and posed as ordinary members. The police said that this would be of pivotal importance as the government needed to categorise LTTE cadres in custody that could not have been achieved without the help of the Vanni cadres, he said.