Tharsini raped before murder- Medical Report

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 18:43 GMT]
Ilayathamby Tharshini (20), whose body was recovered from an abandoned well in Punguduthivu Saturday, was brutally raped before being strangled to death, according to postmortem examination conducted in the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Dr.Balasubramaniam, Judicial Medical Officer, who conducted the postmortem examination later handed over the medical report to the Kayts Police. The funeral of Tharshini was held Monday amid intimidation and threat by the Sri Lanka Navy personnel in Punguduthivu, residents said.

According to the report several injuries were caused by fingernails and biting had been found on several areas of her body. One of her breasts had been severely bitten.

The deceased was reported missing on Friday and on Saturday her naked body tied to a stone was recovered from a well located close to the Sri Lanka Navy ( camp in Punguduthivu. The body was handed over to the mortuary of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

The body was taken to Punguduthivu Monday afternoon in a vehicle by her relatives.

In the meantime SLN soldiers conducted search operation in Punguduthivu. SLN personnel assaulted several persons during the search operation.

Proper funeral was not accorded to the dead woman, as selected people who were to conduct last rites did not come to site due to SLN intimidation of civilians in the area.

Hence the body was taken to Kerativu cemetery in the vehicle which brought her body from Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Thereafter burial took place.

Meanwhile, officials of the Jaffna regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka held an inquiry into this incident in the house of the victim, sources said.

The Police submitted the medical report to the Magistrate Court Tuesday.

Punguduthivu Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) Tuesday said in a press release that Sri Lanka Navy should take the responsibility for the abduction and murder of a young woman Ilayathamby Tharshini as Punguduthivu is under full control of SLN. The press release further said the safety of Tamil women is in danger in the presence of SLN personnel who perpetrate crimes with complete impunity. They called upon civil groups and women's rights activists to raise the issue in local and international fora and ensure safety and freedom of movement to women in the islets.