Occupying Sinhala soldiers mete out revenge assaults against Tamil families in Jaffna, Vanni

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 May 2020, 11:31 GMT]
A group of Sinhala soldiers, believed to be coming from the 522 Brigade camp of the occupying SL Army in Point Pedro, entered the house of Aingaran Achchitha and assaulted the women and children who were home in Vadamaraadchi East, Jaffna. 64-year-old Vijeyaluxmy Pathmanathan, the mother of Achchitha's husband, has been admitted to Point Pedro Base Hospital with injuries. The incident occurred around 10:45 pm Friday. The soldiers were searching for Aingaran, a former LTTE member, who had slapped a soldier following a minor quarrel sometime back in January. Mr Aingaran, fearing extra-judicial revenge, has gone underground as the SLA soldiers have been searching for him.



The SLA soldiers were also harassing Aingaran's relatives a few weeks ago, detaining them.

As the harassment increased, TNA politician and President's Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran sought legal avenues to ensure the safety of Mr Aingaran.

Since there was no official case filed by the SL Police against Mr Aingaran, the judge was not able to provide any protection.

Now, the SL soldiers, roaming around during the COVID-19 curfew were still looking for an opportunity to abduct or kill her husband, Achchitha told media on Saturday.

A group of six of seven soldiers came first and harassed the family. When the residents came to help the family that was shouting, they ran away, leaving behind a cell phone and a military cap.

Later, they came back in three vehicles, entered the house of Aingaran, attacking the family and smashing their properties. The soldiers were drunk, the neighbours who witnessed the episode said.

Achchitha said the soldiers were armed with batons and swords. They smashed the bicycles, motorbikes and chairs.

"I fear for the life of my husband. I have no idea what to do or say," she said.

The gang of soldiers also entered the houses of Aingaran's relatives and attacking everyone they came across.

The soldiers also blocked an ambulance that came to pick up the injured mother.

In the meantime, SL Police has assaulted the members of a family in Mu'l'lil-vaaykkaal in Mullaiththeevu on Thursday.

The SL Police that arrived at the neighbourhood attacked 59-year-old Vijeyaratnam Thiyagarajah, who was taking a food parcel to his relatives after the birthday of his grandchild.

The policemen, who were searching for a man attacked Mr Vijeyaratnam and others in the vicinity asking whether they had seen the person. The people were attacked when they replied in the negative to the question posed by the SL Police on the whereabouts of the said man.

Later, Vijeyaratnam, who sustained an injury with a fracture to one of his hands, was admitted to Mullaiththeevu hospital. SL Police was, however, influencing a Sinhala doctor to discharge him. The SL Police was also refusing to register a complaint on the incident.

Vijeyaratnam will be filing a complaint at the office of the SL Human Rights Commission, rights activists in Mullaiththeevu said.

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