MaRa's armed army of 100 storm into TNA candidate house and launch brutal attack- elections or war in Jaffna?
(Lanka-e-News-20.Sep.2013, 11.30PM) A group of armed army soldiers had this early morning (20) entered the abode at Sulipuram , Tholpuram division where TNA Jaffna district candidate for tomorrow’s election, Anandi Sahshitharan was staying, and attacked her supporters brutally. As most of them had been attacked with clubs , 10 victims were admitted to hospital and a grave situation had resulted thereby. When lawyer Subash of PAFFREL organization had arrived on the scene on hearing of this , he too had been assaulted by the army. This armed group had even slit the tires of the vehicles in the house and gone away.
Anandi Sashidaran is the wife of former Trincomalee district LTTE leader , Eleelan. After the war she surrendered to the army , and worked with great commitment to form an organization of those who were disappearance of the surrendered Tamils.
She is contesting the elections as a TNA candidate . On the very day she handed over her nominations she was subjected to interrogation by an unknown group. Subsequently on the 17th an attempt was made to attack her .
She gave evidence before the LLRC and had met with UN human rights Commissioner when she toured Jaffna.
According to the supporters of Anandhi who were attacked , about 100 armed men had entered the house at dawn , shouting ‘where is Anandi , where is Anandhi ?’
One of the victims of the attack stated thus:
We saw army soldiers hovering around the place at about 9.30 p.m. At about 11.30 p.m. we heard that a second group were also loitering around the premises. Later two of them jumped over the wall and came towards the house. When we all came out they fled. Then at about 12.30 a.m. we heard the sound of vehicles arriving and parking in front of the house.
We realized that our house is laid siege to by the army. Some of them were waiting outside the wall while some others entered the house. We got scared and many of us hid above the ceiling of the house . The intruders started raising their voices and asked ‘where is Anandhi, where is Anandhi?’while attacking the other supporters with clubs. They also pulled out those who were hiding and fiercely assaulted them until the clubs they were wielding were broken. They even kicked us. That army group had even swords with them. After assaulting they dragged us out of the house kept us in a row and attacked us again with clubs. They were screaming after holding the guns to our heads ‘ if you all can live in Wellawatte and Kirilapone , why cant we be here?’ ‘Do you all want provincial councils or Tamil Eelam?’ supporters of Anandhi related to us .
Another victim of the assault said , his motor bike tires were cut. Then the assailant brought his own motor bike and yelled out , ‘why the devil is this motor bike (assailant’s) getting deflated’, and attacked him mercilessly.
Another victim narrated he was caught by his hair and taken around the house while being assaulted all the time.. The armed army group had also taken away with them 7 mobile phones of Anandhi’s supporters .
As a first step Anandhi was dispatched to another safe place because the supporters had harbored fears that the group would come to attack any time.. Hence her life was saved , they related.
Anandhi Sasheedaran speaking to the Tamil media regarding this brutal and ruthless assault said , among those who came to attack the supporters in her house , there were also EPDP Organization groups.
It is most significant to note that as the attack was beginning to be launched the police were informed on the emergency phone No. 119 , but none arrived .
(Lanka-e-News-20.Sep.2013, 11.30PM) A group of armed army soldiers had this early morning (20) entered the abode at Sulipuram , Tholpuram division where TNA Jaffna district candidate for tomorrow’s election, Anandi Sahshitharan was staying, and attacked her supporters brutally. As most of them had been attacked with clubs , 10 victims were admitted to hospital and a grave situation had resulted thereby. When lawyer Subash of PAFFREL organization had arrived on the scene on hearing of this , he too had been assaulted by the army. This armed group had even slit the tires of the vehicles in the house and gone away.Anandi Sashidaran is the wife of former Trincomalee district LTTE leader , Eleelan. After the war she surrendered to the army , and worked with great commitment to form an organization of those who were disappearance of the surrendered Tamils.
She is contesting the elections as a TNA candidate . On the very day she handed over her nominations she was subjected to interrogation by an unknown group. Subsequently on the 17th an attempt was made to attack her .
She gave evidence before the LLRC and had met with UN human rights Commissioner when she toured Jaffna.
According to the supporters of Anandhi who were attacked , about 100 armed men had entered the house at dawn , shouting ‘where is Anandi , where is Anandhi ?’
One of the victims of the attack stated thus:
We saw army soldiers hovering around the place at about 9.30 p.m. At about 11.30 p.m. we heard that a second group were also loitering around the premises. Later two of them jumped over the wall and came towards the house. When we all came out they fled. Then at about 12.30 a.m. we heard the sound of vehicles arriving and parking in front of the house.
We realized that our house is laid siege to by the army. Some of them were waiting outside the wall while some others entered the house. We got scared and many of us hid above the ceiling of the house . The intruders started raising their voices and asked ‘where is Anandhi, where is Anandhi?’while attacking the other supporters with clubs. They also pulled out those who were hiding and fiercely assaulted them until the clubs they were wielding were broken. They even kicked us. That army group had even swords with them. After assaulting they dragged us out of the house kept us in a row and attacked us again with clubs. They were screaming after holding the guns to our heads ‘ if you all can live in Wellawatte and Kirilapone , why cant we be here?’ ‘Do you all want provincial councils or Tamil Eelam?’ supporters of Anandhi related to us .
Another victim of the assault said , his motor bike tires were cut. Then the assailant brought his own motor bike and yelled out , ‘why the devil is this motor bike (assailant’s) getting deflated’, and attacked him mercilessly.
Another victim narrated he was caught by his hair and taken around the house while being assaulted all the time.. The armed army group had also taken away with them 7 mobile phones of Anandhi’s supporters .
As a first step Anandhi was dispatched to another safe place because the supporters had harbored fears that the group would come to attack any time.. Hence her life was saved , they related.
Anandhi Sasheedaran speaking to the Tamil media regarding this brutal and ruthless assault said , among those who came to attack the supporters in her house , there were also EPDP Organization groups.
It is most significant to note that as the attack was beginning to be launched the police were informed on the emergency phone No. 119 , but none arrived .
