Kaithady Krishanthi Massacre

September 7, 1996
Kaithady, Jaffna
Gang rape and murder
4
Killed

What Happened

On 7th September 1996, 18-year-old Krishanthy Kumaraswamy was stopped at an army checkpoint in Kaithady while returning home from her Advanced Level examination. She was gang-raped and murdered by Sri Lankan soldiers.

When her mother Rasamma (a Vice Principal, age 59), brother Piranavan (a student, age 16), and neighbor Kirupamoorthy (a clerk, age 38) went to search for her, they were also detained, tortured, and killed.

The case became internationally known and soldiers were eventually convicted in a rare prosecution - one of the few cases where perpetrators faced justice.

Perpetrators

Sri Lankan Army

Sources & References

  • NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I

Documented Victim Demographics

Based on victims with documented names and details

Documented Victims (4 names)

# Name Age Occupation
1 Kumarasamy Rasamma 59 Vice Principal
2 Kumarasamy Krishanthy 18 Student
3 Kumarasamy Piranavan 16 Student
4 Sithamparam Kirupamoorthy 38 Clerk
Children (age ≤ 12)