STF officers assault 2 Tamil youths in Batticaloa
12 March 2019
Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) officers assaulted two Tamil youths in Karadiyanaru, Batticaloa yesterday.
It is understood the officers launched an attack on one of the youth, Mannan Kajanthan for felling trees. His friend, who attempted to intervene during the attack was also assaulted, sustaining injuries.
According to locals, STF officers took the injured Kajanthan to the forestry department, however the department refused to see him due to his poor health. 
Kajanthan was only then taken to Eravur hospital by the STF officers. He was later transferred to Batticaloa District Hospital, where he remains admitted.
His family, who have not been allowed to see him, told reporters that he continues to be under the surveillance of the STF whilst in hospital.
One family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they tried to file a complaint with the police against the attack, however, the police refused to accept it, stating they would not take a complaint against the STF. The families have now approached Human Rights Commission.
STF troops in Jaffna. Oct 2017
The STF is a paramilitary unit widely understood to be responsible for a range of human rights violations and extrajudicial killings, including a string of massacres of Tamils, such as the 'Trinco 5' murders.
In a report last year the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) identified 56 STF individuals who the group said should not be deployed as UN peacekeepers, including an officer then serving in Africa, as they were involved in extrajudicial killings.
12 March 2019
Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) officers assaulted two Tamil youths in Karadiyanaru, Batticaloa yesterday.
It is understood the officers launched an attack on one of the youth, Mannan Kajanthan for felling trees. His friend, who attempted to intervene during the attack was also assaulted, sustaining injuries.
According to locals, STF officers took the injured Kajanthan to the forestry department, however the department refused to see him due to his poor health.
Kajanthan was only then taken to Eravur hospital by the STF officers. He was later transferred to Batticaloa District Hospital, where he remains admitted.
His family, who have not been allowed to see him, told reporters that he continues to be under the surveillance of the STF whilst in hospital.
One family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they tried to file a complaint with the police against the attack, however, the police refused to accept it, stating they would not take a complaint against the STF. The families have now approached Human Rights Commission.
STF troops in Jaffna. Oct 2017
The STF is a paramilitary unit widely understood to be responsible for a range of human rights violations and extrajudicial killings, including a string of massacres of Tamils, such as the 'Trinco 5' murders.
In a report last year the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) identified 56 STF individuals who the group said should not be deployed as UN peacekeepers, including an officer then serving in Africa, as they were involved in extrajudicial killings.
