Journalist Sukirtharajan Assassination

January 6, 2006
Trincomalee
Targeted killing / Press murder
1
Killed

What Happened

On 24 January 2006 at approximately 6:00 AM, Subramaniam Sugirtharajan (known as S.S. Rajan), 35, was shot dead by unidentified men on Lower Road near Orr's Hill suburb in Trincomalee, close to his residence facing the harbor. He was the Trincomalee correspondent for the Tamil daily 'Sudar Oli' and also worked for the Sri Lanka Port Authority. A father of two, Rajan had been instrumental in exposing the involvement of the Sri Lanka Army in the recent execution-style killing of the five Trincomalee students. The Governor's secretariat was situated nearby. His assassination was seen as retaliation for his journalism exposing military atrocities.

Perpetrators

Unknown gunmen (suspected state-linked)

Documentary Evidence

Warning: These images document the aftermath of this attack and may be disturbing.

2 images from documentary reports. Click to enlarge.

Sources & References

  • NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume II
  • https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?artid=16989&catid=13

Documented Victim Demographics

Based on victims with documented names and details

Documented Victims (1 names)

# Name Age Occupation
1 Subramaniam Sugirtharajan (S.S. Rajan) 35 Journalist
Children (age ≤ 12)