Jaffna Hospital remembers 1987 massacre by Indian army

by admin
Oct 20, 2011

Photograph Tamilnet

Jaffna Hospital staff held a remembrance event on Friday, in memory of the 68 staff and patients, killed by the Indian Peace Keeping Force troops (IPKF) on 21st October 1987.

The event, led by Dr Bhavani Pasupathirajah, was attended by families and loved ones of those massacred.

The Jaffna hospital staff who were massacred, included three then leading medical specialists, Dr.A.Sivapathasuntharam, Dr.K.Parimelalahar and Dr.K.Ganesharatnan.

According to eye witness reports, the hospital was shelled on the morning of the 21st, before IPKF troops stormed the building and threw grenades and fired indiscriminately at the civilian staff and patients.

The following morning, staff who tried to surrender were fired upon before further IPKF soldiers stormed the building and ordered ten members of staff out of the building. The bodies of all ten were found later the same day.

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