What Happened
Kalmunai is situated 40 Kms from the Batticaloa town. Pandiruppu, Natpiddimunai, Chenaikudiyiruppu, and Nilavanai are villages surrounding Kalmunai.
On 11.08.1990, villagers from Pandiruppu, Kalmunai and Chenaikudiyiruppu were gathered in homes in fear as the Sri Lankan military rounded up these villages and began shooting. The military was shooting into the homes forcing people to come out. Young men carried their identity cards in their hands. Mothers held tight onto their babies.
25 young men were taken by the military to the Karaithivu military camp. Mothers who followed were attacked with gun butts and many fainted.
Next day, relatives walked to the Karaithivu camp. The military stopped them and made them stand by the road. Large number of military selected the young women among the relatives. They were taken to a building nearby where they were gang raped and killed. Men were tortured on the road and killed.
37 people were killed in two hours. None of the 25 young men taken to the camp have been seen since.
In total 62 people were killed in these two days.
Perpetrators
Sri Lankan Army
Sources & References
- NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I