9/27/2007
Catholic
priest feared killed by LTTE terrorists- Wanni
Pro-LTTE
websites this evening (September 26) announced that a Catholic
priest working for an NGO had been killed in a bomb blast that
took place deep inside the terrorists dominated territory in Wanni.
These websites have already made their usual accusation that SL
Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) is responsible for the killing.
According
to news reports, Reverend Father Nocholaspillai Packyyaranjith,
Mannar District Coordinator of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) was
killed when his vehicle was caught in a claymore blast in the
Mallavi area this evening. Another Catholic priest identified
as Christopher Jujin was said to have suffered injuries in the
incident.
When
inquired about the alleged accusation on DPU involvement in the
said incident, the defence officials said it is a blatant lie
as no DPU team can go such a distance behind the enemy lines under
the present circumstances.
"If
the incident has happened in Mallavi as said, it means that it
has happened at a location which is well over 60 Km from our Forward
Defence Line (FDL)", a senior defence official said.
"It
is true that we have an excellent Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
(LRRP) team, but they are not like 'suicide' cadres in a terrorist
outfit who are sent on 'never to return missions', he added.
Explaining
further, he said that the primary task of an LRRP team is to do
reconnaissance or to gather information on enemy locations secretly,
but not to expose their presence by carrying out bomb attacks
in the enemy's areas.
LTTE
terrorists have stepped up their attacks at the security forces'
FDL for the last two-three weeks and made several unsuccesful
attempts to break the defence line at various locations. The defence
officials noted that the first priority of the security forces
at present is to strengthen and defend the FDL in Wanni than going
into covert offensives.
Also,
intelligence reports have revealed that LTTE has deployed their
fullest strength along its defence line West of Omanthai, fearing
a security forces' onslaught in the area. Therefore, the officials
pointed out there is not much of room left for LRRPs operate in
enemy area as it is almost impossible for a covert unit to cross
the enemy FDL.
Meanwhile,
defence observers pointed out that LTTE terrorists have demonstrated
similar behaviour whenever the President or a Sri Lankan delegation
is on an important official tour. Earlier too LTTE terrorists
have carried out many crimes by killing innocent Tamil civilians,
aid workers, or whoever whose killing that can draw the displeasure
of the international community towards the government.
LTTE
is a ruthless terrorist organization which has been fighting since
1983 for an ethnically pure separate homeland for Tamils living
in Sri Lanka. Two decades of the LTTE's terror campaign against
Sri Lankan citizens has cost over 65,000 lives.
Courtesy
of Sri Lanka Defence
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