Akkaraipattu massacre

Akkaraipattu massacre happened on 19 February 1986 when approximately 80 Sri Lankan Tamil farm workers were allegedly killed by the Sri Lankan Army personnel and their bodies burned in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.[1][2] The incident came to light a few days later when community leaders visited the remote location near the town of Akkaraipattu, where the farm workers were shot. It has been claimed that the workers were innocent civilians caught up in the violence between governmental security forces and Tamil separatists.[3]

Akkaraipattu massacre
LocationAkkaraipattu, Sri Lanka
Coordinates7°13′N 81°51′E
DateFebruary 19, 1986 (+6 GMT)
TargetSri Lankan Tamil civilians
Attack type
Firing
WeaponsGuns
Deaths80

Details

According to community leaders, the farm workers were threshing the paddy fields when troops appeared from the nearby jungle firing into the air. The women were freed, but the soldiers rounded up the men, tied their hands and made them sit on the road. The farm workers were taken back to the paddy fields and shot. Several empty cases of ammunition have been found in the field. Later the bodies were piled on top of the dry rice harvest and burned.[2][4]

References
  1. Frerks, George; Bart Klem (2004). Dealing with diversity: Sri Lankan Discourses on Peace and Conflict. Netherlands Institute of International Relations. ISBN 90-5031-091-5.p.118
  2. Humphrey, Hawksley (February 22, 1986). "Massacre in Akkaraipattu". The Guardian.
  3. "INDICTMENT AGAINST SRI LANKA". Tamil Web. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  4. IDSA News Review on South Asia/Indian Ocean. Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. 1985.p.363
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