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Killing of V. Sulakshan and N. Gajan

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2016 shooting in Kokkuvil, Sri Lanka
Shooting of V. Sulakshan and N. Gajan
Date20 October 2016 (2016-10-20)
VenueKokkuvil, Sri Lanka
ParticipantsV. Sulakshan, N. Gajan and Sri Lanka Police
DeathsTwo

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.

Background

Vijayakumar Sulakshan was 24 years old and from Kandarodai. Nadarajah Gajan was 23 years old and from Iranaimadu. Both men were third year students at the University of Jaffna's Faculty of Arts and were studying political science and journalism.

Incident

On the night of 20 October 2016 Gajan attended a social event at Sulakshan's house in Jaffna. 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. According to the police the students had failed to stop at a police roadblock at the junction and sped off. The police opened fire, hitting the rider, Sulakshan, twice in the head and killing him. The motorcycle rammed into a parapet wall on the roadside which resulted in serious injuries to the passenger, Gajan. The police claimed that the students were under the influence of alcohol.

Sulakshan and Gajan were rushed to Jaffna Teaching Hospital where Sulakshan was pronounced dead whilst Gajan succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards.

Aftermath

A tense situation prevailed in the area after the incident as other students surrounded the hospital's mortuary. The news of the shooting was suppressed by the police and it was not until the following night that the event was reported in Sri Lanka's national media. The police initially denied that there was a shooting, claiming that the two deaths were accidental. This led to accusations of a police cover-up.

On the morning of 21 October 2016, Jaffna Magistrate S. Satheeshkaran arrived at the scene of the shooting to begin a magisterial inquiry. Post-mortems were carried out that afternoon and initial reports suggested that bullets were found in the victims' bodies. Sulakshan was reported to have been shot three times and had injuries to his chest, neck and spine. Gajan was reportedly shot at least once. 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. The students bodies were returned to their parents but they were ordered to bury them rather than cremate.

After the post-mortem contradicted the police's earlier statement, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department were sent to take over the investigation. 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.

Expressing grief over the deaths, President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena ordered an impartial inquiry and compensation for the students' parents. The shooting was condemned by the Tamil National Alliance, the largest political party representing Sri Lankan Tamils.

Notes

  1. Also Sukantharajah, Sundiraja.
  2. Also Sulaxan.
  3. Also Nadarasa.

References

  1. "Tamil Students Of Jaffna Varsity Shot Dead By Lankan Police". NDTV. Press Trust of India. 21 October 2016.
  2. Srinivasan, Meera (22 October 2016). "2 Jaffna University students killed in 'police shooting'". The Hindu.
  3. ^ "'Sinhala Police, gunning down Tamil students in Jaffna, is not different from genocidal military'". TamilNet. 21 October 2016.
  4. ^ Kariyakarawana, Kurulu Koojana; Madusanka, Romesh; Kumara, Pradeep (21 October 2016). "Two Jaffna Uni students killed in police shooting". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
  5. ^ "Two undergraduates shot dead by police in Jaffna, 5 policemen arrested, Tension prevailing". Tamil Diplomat. 22 October 2016.
  6. Mohan, Sulochana Ramiah (22 October 2016). "Jaffna Uni students die in crash...But five cops arrested in probe". Ceylon Today.
  7. ^ Randunu, Hemantha (22 October 2016). "Five police personnel arrested over killing of two undergrads". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  8. "Five Jaffna policemen in custody for two student's deaths". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 21 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Killing of Jaffna students: Five policemen remanded". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 23 October 2016.
  10. "Sri Lanka President blocks police cover-up of student killing". Sunday Island (Sri Lanka). 23 October 2016.
  11. "Jaffna University students killed in shooting, five policemen arrested". Ceylon News. 21 October 2016.
  12. Fernando, Laksiri (23 October 2016). "Jaffna shooting by police should be strongly condemned". Sunday Island (Sri Lanka).
  13. "Jaffna University students shot dead by Sri Lankan police". Tamil Guardian. 21 October 2016.
  14. "Jaffna student deaths: Five policemen remanded". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 22 October 2016.
  15. "Two Jaffna University students killed in suspected shooting". Daily FT. 22 October 2016.
  16. "Jaffna incident: Five police personnel remanded". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 22 October 2016.
  17. "Jaffna incident: Five policemen remanded". Sunday Island (Sri Lanka). 23 October 2016.
  18. "President orders impartial inquiry over Jaffna Uni students' deaths". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 22 October 2016.
  19. "President orders impartial probe into death of Jaffna Uni students". Ada Derana. 22 October 2016.
  20. "TNA condemns Jaffna incident". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 22 October 2016.
  21. "TNA condemns Jaffna shooting incident". Sunday Island (Sri Lanka). 23 October 2016.
  22. "Jaffna student deaths: TNA condemns incident". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 22 October 2016.
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