Tamil reported missing found in coma after Vavuniyaa prison raid

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 July 2012, 23:37 GMT]
28-year-old Tamil man, Dilrukshan Muthurasa from Iluppaikkadavai, in Maanthai West of Mannaar district in Vanni, was one of the prisoners in Vavuniyaa prison, which was raided by the Sri Lankan Special Task Force commandos on 29 June. Dilrukshan, seriously attacked and allegedly subjected to torture at Vavuniyaa and Anuradhapura prisons, is currently in coma and is fighting for his life at Mahara prison. His mother, Reeza Muthurasa, who didn't know about the whereabouts of her son, has identified him after visiting her son at Mahara hospital, following press reports. According to Ms Reeza, her son, who had gone on employment in Middle East in 2006 had returned just before the war intensified in Vanni and was caught by the SL Navy when he tried to escape the war zone in a boat in 2009.

Legal sources in Colombo said there has been allegations of discrimination in medical treatment to the prisoner who needs proper medical care.

Dilrukshan's condition has deteriorated at Mahara hospital, according to his mother who said bad odour was emanating from the victim, who is struggling for his life at the hospital.

Ms Reeza further said Dilukshan was the only able son to take care of their family and rejected the claim of the Sri Lankan military that her son was a commander of the LTTE. How could Dilukshan, who had just come back from abroad and was trying escape the war zone, be described as a commander in the LTTE, she asked.

Another 28-year-old Tamil prisoner, Ganesan Nimalarooban from Nelukku'lam in Vavuniyaa, had succumbed to his injuries at Mahara hospital a few days ago.

Nimalarooban had been taken away from his house long after the end of war, alleging that he was associated to the LTTE.

The Judicial Medical Officer in Mahara was attempting to produce a document that falsely suggested that Nimalarooban had died of heart attack, the parents, who had refused to sign the papers said.

78-year-old father and 60-year-old mother of the slain victim have said that their son lost his life after severe torture. They have been demanding that the body should be handed over to them for final rites and cremation according to Saiva tradition.

In the meantime, the Sri Lankan police has been pushing for burial in Mahara prison without allowing the family of Nimalarooban to take his body to Nelukku'lam in Vavuniyaa.

The SL police has argued at the SL court in Mahara that violence could erupt in Vavuniyaa if the body was handed over to the family.

Following this, the SL Court had given permission for the burial at Mahara hospital. But, the parents of the slain victim have opposed the move.

Chronology: