What Happened
Kilinochchi town is a hustling business centre for the Kilinochchi district. It has a big market, a railway station and a hospital.
On 25.01.1986, five Sri Lankan military personnel were hiding behind the trees south of the Kilinochchi Railway station. The train from Jaffna carrying passengers to Colombo stopped to pick up passengers.
As the passengers were boarding the train, one of the military soldiers opened fire. Frightened people started to run in all directions. People hid inside the railway station and inside the train.
At the end of the shooting, 12 people were dead including four women and two children.
The government made the following statement: "A soldier suffering from mental illness opened fire at the passengers and killed some of them. We apologize for the incident." There were no other steps taken.
Survivor Sinnaiyah Nallaiyah: "My wife was a teacher and had received a letter inviting her to the Education Department. We were at the station when we heard the gunshots. Nine SLA soldiers came there and began to shoot randomly from the platform. Nine people were killed immediately. My wife and son and many others were injured. I found my 9 year old son and wife dead."
Perpetrators
Sri Lankan Army
Sources & References
- NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I