Trooper suicide over boy's rape

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 January 2000, 18:24 GMT]
Corporal Thilakaretna of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) attached to the Brigade in Manipay in Jaffna district shot himself fatally on Wednesday as he was being interrogated during investigations into a complaint against him for sexually assaulting a 15 year-old boy, police sources said.

On January 5, Tharmakulasingham Gajanthan, Karuppiddy Pillaiyar Kovilady, Araly South, was admitted to the Hospital with injuries sustained in a serious sexual assault.

When the Police commenced its investigation into this complaint against Thilakaretna, he committed suicide, sources said.

According to reports, the youngster was stopped by the SLA Corporal whilst walking along a road.

The soldier had threatened the boy and sent him to buy some items at a nearby shop. On his return, the youth was forced to go with the soldier to a concealed location.

The soldier had forcibly stripped the boy and sexually assaulted him.

The boy was warned by the soldier not to tell anybody and that severe action will be taken against him if others come to know

The boy had managed to escape and told his parents who informed the police.