Bodies of missing villagers found

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 August 2000, 19:51 GMT]
Bodies of two villagers who were reported 'missing' after they went to collect fire-wood in the jungles of Maya Oya, about 45 km south-west of Batticaloa town, on 22 August were recovered in decomposed state on Monday said sources.

The body of Mylvakanam Subramanium, 36, was found in the Kaar Malai area. His relatives cremated the body on the spot as it was highly decomposed, sources said.

The body of Murukupillai Thurairasasingham, 44, was brought to his native village of Karadiyan Aaru and cremated later on Monday.

Nine villagers had gone in a tractor to collect fire-wood in the jungles of Maha Oya on 22 August.

According to complaints made with the Batticaloa Human Rights Commission (HRC), five of them had escaped and returned home, leaving behind the tractor, when troops opened fire.

Whereabouts of the other two 'missing' persons are not known, the sources added.