The Jaffna regional office of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) has initiated an investigation over the murder of a youth in Karainagar, in which the Sri Lankan Navy have been accused of being complicit in. 

T. Kanagaraj, the regional coordinator for the HRC confirmed that they had launched an investigation into the incident where a violent mob had ambushed a couple who were on their way home in Karainagar on March 11th. 

Footage captured by CCTV taken from SLNS Elara (Navy camp) shows them pleading with armed officers on duty for help, whilst troops initially assault the man. As they frantically plead for help, a motorbike and car are seen repeatedly passing by. A group of men then emerge and drag the couple away, into the car. The Sri Lankan naval officers are seemingly standing by and watching.

The wife says her husband was stabbed, beaten and strangled in the car. Although the assailants dropped her off at Sithankerny, her husband’s body was later found dropped off near a hospital.

He was admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital where he died from his injuries. A post-mortem report revealed that he had deep lacerations from numerous stab wounds.

“My husband and I escaped from the assailants and ran to a navy camp where we sought shelter,” the woman told reporters the next day, describing how they had pleaded for help. “However the officers chased us away.”

Sri Lankan police have since located the vehicle used in the crime, which they noted was heavily blood-stained. Five individuals from Kilinochchi whom they believe were connected to the incident have reportedly been arrested.