Akkaraipattu massacre

Akkaraipattu massacre
Location	Akkaraipattu, Sri Lanka
Coordinates	7°13′N 81°51′E
Date	February 19, 1986 (+6 GMT)
Target	Sri Lankan Tamil civilians
Attack type	Firing
Weapons	Guns
Deaths	80
Perpetrators	Sri Lankan army

Akkaraipattu massacre happened on 19 February 1986 when approximately 80 Tamil farm workers were killed by the Sri Lankan Army personnel and their bodies burned in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.[1][2] The incident came to light a few days later when community leaders visited the remote location near the town of Akkaraipattu, where the farm workers were shot.

Details

According to community leaders, the farm workers were threshing the paddy fields when troops appeared from the nearby jungle firing into the air. The women were freed, but the soldiers rounded up the men, tied their hands and made them sit on the road. The farm workers were taken back to the paddy fields and shot. Several empty cases of ammunition have been found in the field. Later the bodies were piled on top of the dry rice harvest and burned.[2][3]

See also

• List of attacks on civilians attributed to Sri Lankan government forces

References

1. Frerks, George; Bart Klem (2004). Dealing with diversity: Sri Lankan Discourses on Peace and Conflict. Netherlands Institute of International Relations. ISBN 90-5031-091-5.p.118
2. Humphrey, Hawksley (February 22, 1986). "Massacre in Akkaraipattu". The Guardian.
3. IDSA News Review on South Asia/Indian Ocean. Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. 1985.p.363