“The imprisoned warrior who surrendered his sight and his life to protect the soil

“The imprisoned warrior who surrendered his sight and his life to protect the soil.” Name: Selva rasa Yogachandran City: Valvettithurai, Jaffna (யாழ்ப்பாணம்) One of the early pioneers in the armed struggle for Tamil Eelam’s freedom. Captured by the Invading Sri Lankan government and sentenced to death, his dying wish was; “Before my execution, remove my eyes and give them to a blind Tamilian, at least let my eyes witness the Tamil Eelam that I won’t live to see,” he said.

He was savagely killed by Sinhalese attackers in Colombo’s Welikadaich Jail, his eyes gouged out as a vengeful response to his wish to give them to a blind Tamilian and his feet were trampled in the attack, which was carried out against Tamil Eelam freedom fighters, while the jail authorities deliberately ignore the violence. The brutality of his death sparked a great outcry in Tamil Eelam and Tamil Nadu, further strengthening the call for the armed self-determination struggle.