 |
| Late Dr Manoharan holding the photograph of his son Rajihar Manoharan |
Dr K. Manoharan, father of one of the victims of five Tamil students who were killed by Special Task Force in Trincomalee 19 years ago passed away yesterday in exile, his family said. He was 84.
Father of Ragihar Manoharan, Dr Manoharan tirelessly campaigned and struggled to ensure justice is served to his son’s death despite intimidation and security challenges over the years.
Known as ‘Trinco 5’ killings locally and internationally followed by condemnation, five Tamil students including late Ragihar were executed by Special Task Force near Trincomalee beach area in January 2, 2006.
Dr Manoharan and his wife, who passed away in 2020 campaigned tirelessly seeking justice to the cold killing of their son and his friends by taking up the issue at United Nations and advocacy institutions such as Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International etc over the years.
Both of them passed away without witnessing justice being served to the killing of their son during their lifetime.
On August 9, 2019, the Amnesty International welcomed the decision of the Attorney General of Sri Lanka to recommence investigations into the killing of five Tamil students – known as the ‘Trinco 5’ – allegedly by the Sri Lankan security forces in Trincomalee on 2 January 2006.
The decision follows the acquittal of 13 Special Task Force (STF) suspects earlier this month, reportedly due to a “lack of evidence".
Amnesty International notes the importance of a thorough, effective and impartial investigation into the killing to ensure that victims of human rights violations and abuses can access justice. The government of Sri Lanka has an obligation under international law to deliver justice to the victims of the killings – either through the domestic court system, or through a judicial mechanism with a special counsel to investigate allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, which the government proposed to establish in UN Human Rights Council resolution 30/1 (2015)”, a statement from the advocacy agency said.
 |
| Late Rajihar Manoharan |
A journalist who took photographs of the bodies, Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan, was killed a few weeks later.
Late Dr. K Manoharan, whose son Ragihar was one of the victims was forced to flee the country after receiving death threats and continues to voice fears of reprisals against those who give evidence in the case.
The families of the other victims, including two youths who survived the attack were also forced to flee Sri Lanka.
On January 2, 2006, Ragihar Manoharan and four other Sri Lankan Tamil students, known as the “Trinco Five” students, were killed by security forces in the city of Trincomalee, in north-eastern Sri Lanka.
The Government claimed that the youth were killed in a grenade attack, but medical reports showed that the youth were shot at close range.
A criminal case was filed against 13 STF members suspected of executing the five youth at Trincomalee beach on 2 January 2006. On 3 July 2019, the suspects were acquitted reportedly due to a "lack of evidence". On 9 July 2019, the Attorney General directed police to recommence investigations into the killing. According to media reports, the AG directed the police to carry out a comprehensive investigation to trace the whereabouts of the witnesses and send him a detailed report of the progress into the matter. (Northeastern Minitor/ September 22/2025)
Post a Comment