The photographs of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Chief Villupillai Prabhakaran’s son raised serious questions about Sri Lankan troops’ operation against Tamil rebels who were killed mercilessly during the war in 2009.
One of the pictures taken a few hours ago on the same camera showed that junior Prabhakaran was sitting in a bunker with no injury marks on his body in the custody of Sri Lankan troops. However, another picture showed that his body was lying on the ground with bullet marks.
The photos suggested that boy was captured alive and killed later. According to a forensic report, he was shot five times in the chest. The images suggested that he was shot at very close range.
However, the previous report and authorities claimed that Balachandran was killed in cross-fire during the battle when the Sri Lankan troops moved to occupy LTTE’s last stronghold near Mullaitivu in the north-east of the country.
The pictures have been taken in May 2009 during Sri Lanka’s operation to crush the LTTE in the country. The war against LTTE had claimed the lives of 70,000 people.
However, Sri Lankan authorities denied the shooting anyone, who has surrendered to them. The army clarified its stand saying the troops have been victim of lies, speculations and human rights abuses.
The disturbing photographs will be screened at the Geneva Human Rights Film Festival during the UN Human Rights Council meeting in March.