North East Secretariat On Human Rights
Report on the
Nelliady Massacre
of May 4, 2006
Nelliady Massacre of May 4, 2006
Nelliady is a central town situated in Vadamarachchi on Jaffna- Point Pedro road. It is a densely populated town with several trade centers. “Raja Kiraman,” a small settlement in the suburb of Nelliady Town, is populated with marginalized people who are daily wage-earners.
Horrible day
On Thursday, May 4, 2006 at 1:00pm, seven young people of the Raja Kiraman village were on the way to there friends birthday celebration taking some liger and some food in two three-wheelers. The eye-witnesses said, “It was raining heavily. These two three-wheelers were stopped and checked by the Sri Lankan security forces and the passengers were asked for their identity. Then the Army let them proceed on with their journey. No sooner had they left than there were several gun-shots and an R.P.G attack on their vehicles.”
While people were afraid to go to the spot at the time of the attack, people were also prevented from going to the spot by the Army. One eyewitness commented that there were soldiers on the road every 10 feet.
Victim 01
Name -Nagaratnam Naguleswaran
Age -17+
Date of birth -24.08.1988
Occupation -Daily wage earner
Address -Rajakiramam, Karaveddy.
Civil status -Married.
His wife is four-months pregnant. His wife Thadchaini said she came to know about the incident only about four o’clock pm of the right side of her husband’s body being completely mutilated.
Victim 02
Name -Subramaniam Sugas
Age -20+
Date of birth -27.08.2985
Address -Rajakiramam, Karaveddy.
Occupation -Private Bus conductor
Civil status -Single
Family members- 07 (05 Children)
His father Subramaniam said that he went for the birthday party of his friend, but later he heard he was shot dead by Army and EPDP. His body was chopped and mutilated .
Victim 03
Name -Thamotharampillai Simon
Age -18+
Date of birth -15.07.1987
Address -Rajakiramam karaveddy.
Occupation -Private Bus conductor
Civil status -Single
Family members-07
His father said that his son went to his friend’s birthday party, when he heard of his death, he went to the spot. He found
his son’s body cut and chopped.
Victim 04
Name – Balachandran Kirikanthan
Religion – Hindu
Age – 17+
Date of birth – 10.10.1988
Address – Rajakiramam karaveddy.
Occupation – Tube well erection.
Civil status – Single
Family members – 04 (two sisters)
Father separated from his family Sister said that their father had already abandoned the family and her brother is the only bread- winner, Due to poverty he studied only up to grade 06 and left school to maintain his family. She said that her brother’s body was full of gun injuries and cuts.
Victim 05
Name -Navaratnaraja Nasanna
Age -20
Date of birth -15.05.1986
Address -Rajakiramam, Karaveddy
Occupation -Tube well erection.
Civil status -single
Family members-12 (10 children)
One brother died, his family too is depending on this family “His body too was mutilated” His brother pirasanna said.
Victim 06
Name -Selvarasa Suman
Religion -Hindu
Age -21+
Date of birth -16.10.1984
Address -Rajakiramam, Karaveddy.
Civil status -Married.
Family members-Wife and two childrens.
His wife Pusparani said “He went for his friend’s birthday and was killed for nothing. I am desperate and suffering. I have no body.”
Victim 07
Name -Velupillai Nirmalan.
Religion -Hindu
Age -21+
Date of birth -11.09.1984
Address -Rajakiramam, Karaveddy.
Occupation -Daily wage earner
Civil status -Married
Family members-03(one child)
His wife Thevaluxmy said “My husband was innocent. He went for his friend’s birthday.” One elder of the village cried why this cruelty on these innocent young men. He said that all dead bodies were mutilated such a way so that five bodies were packed in polythene bags and couldn’t be dressed.