Personal data
Name
Ananthi Konsharvae
Date of birth
22.02.1971
Age
36
Place of birth
–
Biographical details
Ananthi Konsharvae was a Tamil woman from Padahuththurai, a fishing village located in Mannar district. Ananthi belonged to the Padahuththurai fishing community, which is made up of about 35 tight knit extended families. Most are refugees displaced from Jaffna right after the Sri Lankan military recaptured Jaffna. The Padahuththurai location was ideal for small scale fishing which most of the men in the community did in small manual boats. Ananthi was married to Anthonipppillai Konsharvae, a fischerman in Padahuthurai. Ananthi was a housewife. She was 36 years old at the time of her murder.
Indcident
Date
02.01.2007
Location
Padahuththurai, Mannar
Description
On 2 January 2007, the small fishing community in Padahuththurai in Mannar district was bombed by the Sri Lankan Air Force. 15 civilians from the extended family including Ananthi Konsharvae and six children were killed. Furthermore, 35 civilians were injured. Many among the injured were permanently maimed.
The day before, on 1st January 2007, the New Year was celebrated by the community. 2nd January was a relaxed day and Ananthi was with her mother at home. The community awaited the arrival of one of its families who had gone away to celebrate new year with other relatives 10 kms away. For two hours, they heard the drone of the usual spy plane which concerned them but that was common. There was no noise of a bomber which would have send them scurrying for safety. At 9.35 am, the eagerly awaited family arrived walking from the bus stand a bit further away. The entire clan, especially the children, ran to wish a happy New Year. That was the last pleasant memory of the community, because right after Kfirs came and started dropping many bombs within seconds. After the Kfirs had left the mother of Ananthi went to look for her daughter and found her dead.
Legal situation (investigation/criminal proceedings)
No one was ever held accountable and there were no criminal proceedings in court. The Sri Lankan officers, who commanded it, and the responsible soldiers have not been convicted to this day.