Name: Kanapathy Murugesu (Male)
Age: 68 Marital status: Married
Address: Thunnalai Centre, Thunnalai, Karaveddy, Jaffna
Occupation: Retired post-masterThe incident
 Murugesu was living with wife, his married daughter and her family.
On January 12th, he rode his bicycle along the Jaffna road (see map) to his bank to
collect his pension. A cyclist behind him saw Murugesu falling down and bleeding 200 metres
from the 1st Mile Post. This cyclist said that this happened around 10.00 am. The
cyclist tried to go towards Murugesu to assist him. Two Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers,
standing by the road side at the spot where Murugesu fell, prevented the cyclist
from approaching Murugesu lying on the ground. The cyclist proceeded without any
further comment because to do otherwise in the current climate of fear in Jaffna is
unthinkable. Other passers by who tried to approach Murugesu were also not allowed to
go near him. SLA handed over the dead body of Murugesu to the Manthihai hospital
located 2 km from the location of the incident at 1.00 pm. NESOHR has a copy of
the letter issued by the District Medical Officer accepting the body of Murugesu at 1.00
pm at the Manthihai Hospital. Murugesu’s family was informed of the incident at 1.30 pm.
Family members who saw his body stated that he was shot just below his shoulder and
the bullet has come out on the opposite side of his body.
The inquest
The police was told of the killing but they did not arrive for the
inquest until midday on the following day. On the following day, before the magistrate
arrived for the inquest, a group of SLA soldiers arrived and called for the family members of
Murugesu. SLA instructed the family members to blame the shooting of Murugesu on
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Family members informed the magistrate
of this during the inquest and the magistrate noted it in his report.
SLA claimed that Murugesu was shot from behind. However the bullet
wounds on Murugesu’s body indicate that he was shot from the side. The wounds
also indicate that he was shot at close range because the bullet has left the body on
the opposite side. Witnesses added that there were five bullet marks on the wall on the
side of the road opposite to where the SLA soldiers were standing at the spot where
Murugesu was shot. These bullet marks on the wall could not have been made if Murugesu
was shot from behind.
When Murugesu’s family approached the people, living at the spot
where Murugesu was shot, to ask if they had seen anything, they declined to make any
comment. Such is the pervasive fear that prevails in Jaffna.
Note by NESOHR: NESOHR is with holding the identities of the people
who have provided us with information about the case for their own safety.
NESOHR is ready to share more detailed information with any reputable international
human rights organizations wishing to inquire into this case.
Dr N Malathy (NESOHR Secretary) |
