Rape victim gives evidence

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 December 1998, 14:42 GMT]
The inquest in to the rape of Sivasothy Krishnapillai, 31, allegedly by three Special Task Force (STF) personnel, in Mandoor, Batticaloa district on December 31 1996, was held at the Batticaloa District court on November 30.

The accused in the case are STF personnel Samarasinghe Muthiyansalage Bandusene, Eswarage Sandane Ajithkumar and Kandage Bandusene Keman, all were stationed at the STF camp at Mandoor tiles factory.

The victim, Sivasothy Krishnapillai and her husband, who were displaced from Mandoor were living at Murungaiyadi Poo. According to the victim she was gang-raped by the STF police men when she went to collect things from her home at Mandoor.

Following are the extracts of the victim's testimony in the courts:

"My husband, and I rented a bullock-cart to get things from our house in Mandoor on 31. December 1996. We were displaced and living at Murungaiyadi Poo. My husband and the person who owned the cart went along the main road. I took a short way and went through a paddy field."

"I had come closer to our house and suddenly I heard some one calling me. I saw the first accused staying there. He asked me where I was going. I replied that I was going home and showed him where I was living."

"Then he came towards me and garbed my blouse. I was wearing a red blouse and a red skirt. The accused was wearing blue shirt and a black trousers."

"Then he pushed me down and raped me."

"I was screaming. But he tried to stop me by putting his hands on my mouth"

"After 15 minutes the second accused came to the spot. He was warning a green T-shirt and black trousers"

"I tried to push him away. I slapped on his face. But I could not stop him"

"He also raped me."

"Then came the third accused. I was screaming louder and louder"

"I tried to push him away as he approached me. He did not stop."

"I was raped by him too."

"I saw the first and second accused holding guns."

"Latter the first accused came and offered me some money. I did not want to take the money from them and pushed his hands away."

"Then they warned me that I should not leave that place for fifteen minutes. They threatened to kill my family if I told anybody what had happened."

"I was scolding them. But they were just laughing. They left the place a short while after"

"I rushed to our house and was about to commit suicide by taking poison"

"My husband came there. He knew what had happened. He took me to the STF camp on a bicycle."

" The officer in charge there at the camp wanted me to identify the rapists. The accused men were not in the identification parade. They came later"

"I identified the first and second accused at the camp. I identified the third accused in the courts."

The judge Mr.J.Viswanathan who heard the case adjourned the hearing until January 18.

Her husband, Krishnapillai and a villager, Sinnathamby Pavalisingham, also testified in the courts.