Killing of V. Sulakshan and N. Gajan
| Date | 20 October 2016 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Kokkuvil, Sri Lanka |
| Participants | V. Sulakshan, N. Gajan and Sri Lanka Police |
| Deaths | Two |
Sri Lankan Tamil students V. Sulakshan and N. Gajan were shot dead by police in Kokkuvil in northern Sri Lanka on the night of 20 October 2016.[1][2]
Background[edit]
Vijayakumar[a] Sulakshan[b] was 24 years old and from Kandarodai.[3][4] Nadarajah[c] Gajan was 23 years old and from Iranaimadu.[3][4][5] Both men were third year students at the University of Jaffna's Faculty of Arts and were studying political science and journalism.[3][4][6]
Incident[edit]
On the night of 20 October 2016 Gajan attended a social event at Sulakshan's house in Jaffna.[4] After the event Sulakshan was returning Gajan to his student hostel in Chunnakam on a motorcycle when, at around 11.30pm, the pair were shot by police at Kulapiddy junction on the Jaffna-KKS Road in Kokkuvil.[3][4] According to the police the students had failed to stop at a police roadblock at the junction and sped off.[4][7] The police opened fire, hitting the rider, Sulakshan, twice in the head and killing him.[4][7] The motorcycle rammed into a parapet wall on the roadside which resulted in serious injuries to the passenger, Gajan.[4] The police claimed that the students were under the influence of alcohol.[4][7][8]
Sulakshan and Gajan were rushed to Jaffna Teaching Hospital where Sulakshan was pronounced dead whilst Gajan succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards.[4]
Aftermath[edit]
A tense situation prevailed in the area after the incident as other students surrounded the hospital's mortuary.[5] Nationally however news of the shooting was suppressed by the police and it was not until the following night (21) that the event was reported in Sri Lanka's national media.[3][4] The police initially denied that there was a shooting, claiming that the two deaths were accidental.[3][4][9] This led to accusations of a police cover-up.[3][10][11][12]
On the morning of 21 October 2016 Jaffna Magistrate S. Satheeshkaran arrived at the scene of the shooting to begin a magisterial inquiry.[4] Post-mortems were carried out that afternoon and initial reports suggested that bullets were found in the victims' bodies.[3][4] Sulakshan was reported to have been shot three times and had injuries to his chest, neck and spine.[3] Gajan was reportedly shot at least once.[3] According to the official Judicial Medical Officer's report, Sulakshan was killed by a shot in the chest and Gajan died of head injuries sustained during the crash into the wall.[9][13] The students bodies were returned to their parents but they were ordered to bury them rather than cremate.[5]
After the post-mortem contradicted the police's earlier statement officers from the Criminal Investigation Department were sent to take over the investigation.[14][15] On 22 October 2016 five police personnel (a sub-inspector, a sergeant, two constables and a driver) were arrested and remanded until 4 November 2016.[5][16][17]
Expressing grief at the deaths, President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena ordered an impartial inquiry and compensation for the students' parents.[18][19] The shooting was condemned by the Tamil National Alliance, the largest political party representing Sri Lankan Tamils.[20][21][22]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Tamil Students Of Jaffna Varsity Shot Dead By Lankan Police". NDTV. Press Trust of India. 21 October 2016.
- ^ Srinivasan, Meera (22 October 2016). "2 Jaffna University students killed in 'police shooting'". The Hindu.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "'Sinhala Police, gunning down Tamil students in Jaffna, is not different from genocidal military'". TamilNet. 21 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Kariyakarawana, Kurulu Koojana; Madusanka, Romesh; Kumara, Pradeep (21 October 2016). "Two Jaffna Uni students killed in police shooting". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
- ^ a b c d "Two undergraduates shot dead by police in Jaffna, 5 policemen arrested, Tension prevailing". Tamil Diplomat. 22 October 2016.
- ^ Mohan, Sulochana Ramiah (22 October 2016). "Jaffna Uni students die in crash...But five cops arrested in probe". Ceylon Today.
- ^ a b c Randunu, Hemantha (22 October 2016). "Five police personnel arrested over killing of two undergrads". The Island (Sri Lanka).
- ^ "Five Jaffna policemen in custody for two student's deaths". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 21 October 2016.
- ^ a b "Killing of Jaffna students: Five policemen remanded". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 23 October 2016.
- ^ "Sri Lanka President blocks police cover-up of student killing". Sunday Island (Sri Lanka). 23 October 2016.
- ^ "Jaffna University students killed in shooting, five policemen arrested". Ceylon News. 21 October 2016.
- ^ Fernando, Laksiri (23 October 2016). "Jaffna shooting by police should be strongly condemned". Sunday Island (Sri Lanka).
- ^ "Jaffna University students shot dead by Sri Lankan police". Tamil Guardian. 21 October 2016.
- ^ "Jaffna student deaths: Five policemen remanded". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 22 October 2016.
- ^ "Two Jaffna University students killed in suspected shooting". Daily FT. 22 October 2016.
- ^ "Jaffna incident: Five police personnel remanded". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 22 October 2016.
- ^ "Jaffna incident: Five policemen remanded". Sunday Island (Sri Lanka). 23 October 2016.
- ^ "President orders impartial inquiry over Jaffna Uni students' deaths". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 22 October 2016.
- ^ "President orders impartial probe into death of Jaffna Uni students". Ada Derana. 22 October 2016.
- ^ "TNA condemns Jaffna incident". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 22 October 2016.
- ^ "TNA condemns Jaffna shooting incident". Sunday Island (Sri Lanka). 23 October 2016.
- ^ "Jaffna student deaths: TNA condemns incident". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 22 October 2016.