Young mother gang-raped and murdered

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 December 1999, 04:53 GMT]
A young woman was gang-raped and murdered by unidentified gunmen near Kannakai Amman Temple in Punguduthivu, an islet off Jaffna peninsula, Tuesday night, residents said. Her body, covered with Palmyrah leaves, was found yesterday morning, about 100 metres from her house, they added.

Sources said the victim, Sarathambal Saravanbavananthakurukal, was in her house with her child and her brother. Around 8 p.m on Tuesday, the gunmen suddenly entered the house, raped the young mother, after forcibly removing her brother from the house.

Residents said the body was found the following morning, with clothes stuffed in her mouth.

The Jaffna Magistrate, R.T.Vignarajah, went to Pungudutivu to hold the magisterial inquest into this death. The victim's body was brought to the Jaffna teaching hospital, Wednesday evening, for further investigations, court sources said.

Meanwhile, Mr.Jegan, District Organizer of the Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party brought this incident to the notice of the Security Forces Commander in Jaffna and Douglas Devananda, the EPDP leader.

A Sri Lanka Naval detachment is based in Pungudutivu. People of the area suspect some Navy personnel were involved in this crime.