4HT LEAD

Catholic priest on humanitarian mission killed in DPU Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 September 2007, 12:12 GMT]
Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith, 40, the Mannaar district coordinator of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) was killed when Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) attackers launched a Claymore attack on his Hiace vehicle, at Kalvi'laan on Maangku'lam - Ve'l'laangku'lam road, Wednesday evening, Tamileelam Police officials in Mallaavi said. Fr. Ranjth was bringing baby milk and essential humanitarian supplies for displaced children in his vehicle, JRS sources in Mannaar said.



The assistant of the priest, identified as Christopher Jujin, was injured and transferred to Ki'linochchi hospital, medical sources said.

Fr. Nicholaspillai was on his way to Vidaththaltheevu, via Mallaavi. He had entered the LTTE controlled area through Pu'liyangku'lam entry point to attend the needs of recently displaced people in the district.

Humanitarian and Health workers, attending the needs of civilians in Vanni, have been increasingly targeted by the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) Unit of the SLA, known as DPU.

The JRS is an international Catholic organisation with a mission to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people.

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