‘Blood, Body Parts Were Strewn All Over’
Pastor Confronted Bomber Moments Before Attack
Jaya.Menon@timesgroup.com
22.04.2019
Fr Kumaran, pastor of the Zion Church in Batticaloa, was quick to spot the stranger at his doorstep. Carrying a bag and dressed casually, the man did not look familiar. It was 8.30am and the church was packed with members of the Easter congregation, all local residents. “I asked him who he was and his name. He said he was a Muslim and wanted to visit the church,” Fr Kumaran told TOI from Batticaloa.
As he argued with the man, the suspected suicide bomber, some priests ushered Fr Kumaran into the church as it was getting late for the Mass. As he walked towards the podium, he heard an ear-shattering explosion. As he turned, what he saw shook him. Blood was splattered all over the walls and bodies lay on the floor, many of them children, who had just finished their Sunday classes on the first floor of the church. “Twenty-eight people were killed, among them 12 children. Two are critical,” said Fr Kumaran, sounding distressed.
Batticaloa, capital of the Eastern Province, is in a state of shock. “I have never heard the sound of a bomb explosion before. We initially thought it was the burst of a tyre,” said S Vikash, 21, a medical representative who lived in Kallady, 3km from the church. “When we realised it was an explosion, we followed the sound of fire engines and ambulances. The scene was terrifying. There was blood and body parts strewn all over. It was heart-rending to see the bodies of children,” he said.
Arasaratnam Verl, 41, sounded calm as he spoke of his 13-year-old son V Jackson, a Grade 8 student. Jackson had been standing near the church entrance after attending the Sunday class when the blast took place. He was killed instantly. “My elder sister was killed too. My two younger sisters and my brother-in-law are critical,” said Verl, a taxi driver. Jackson was his only child. He lost his friend Ramesh too. “Ramesh had questioned the bomber, asking his name, address and then pushed the man outside the church door,” said Verl. Shortly thereafter, the man blew himself up.
S Ramya, 32, recuperating in the Batticaloa hospital, had stepped out of the church to drink water when the explosion occurred. She was injured and later taken to hospital.
Tamil actor Radhika had returned to Chennai on Saturday after a vacation in Colombo with her brother Raju Radha. On Sunday morning, the businessman had decided to attend the 11am Mass at the St Antony’s Church instead of the 9am prayers for Easter. The decision saved him and his family.
Pastor Confronted Bomber Moments Before Attack
Jaya.Menon@timesgroup.com
22.04.2019
Fr Kumaran, pastor of the Zion Church in Batticaloa, was quick to spot the stranger at his doorstep. Carrying a bag and dressed casually, the man did not look familiar. It was 8.30am and the church was packed with members of the Easter congregation, all local residents. “I asked him who he was and his name. He said he was a Muslim and wanted to visit the church,” Fr Kumaran told TOI from Batticaloa.
As he argued with the man, the suspected suicide bomber, some priests ushered Fr Kumaran into the church as it was getting late for the Mass. As he walked towards the podium, he heard an ear-shattering explosion. As he turned, what he saw shook him. Blood was splattered all over the walls and bodies lay on the floor, many of them children, who had just finished their Sunday classes on the first floor of the church. “Twenty-eight people were killed, among them 12 children. Two are critical,” said Fr Kumaran, sounding distressed.
Batticaloa, capital of the Eastern Province, is in a state of shock. “I have never heard the sound of a bomb explosion before. We initially thought it was the burst of a tyre,” said S Vikash, 21, a medical representative who lived in Kallady, 3km from the church. “When we realised it was an explosion, we followed the sound of fire engines and ambulances. The scene was terrifying. There was blood and body parts strewn all over. It was heart-rending to see the bodies of children,” he said.
Arasaratnam Verl, 41, sounded calm as he spoke of his 13-year-old son V Jackson, a Grade 8 student. Jackson had been standing near the church entrance after attending the Sunday class when the blast took place. He was killed instantly. “My elder sister was killed too. My two younger sisters and my brother-in-law are critical,” said Verl, a taxi driver. Jackson was his only child. He lost his friend Ramesh too. “Ramesh had questioned the bomber, asking his name, address and then pushed the man outside the church door,” said Verl. Shortly thereafter, the man blew himself up.
S Ramya, 32, recuperating in the Batticaloa hospital, had stepped out of the church to drink water when the explosion occurred. She was injured and later taken to hospital.
Tamil actor Radhika had returned to Chennai on Saturday after a vacation in Colombo with her brother Raju Radha. On Sunday morning, the businessman had decided to attend the 11am Mass at the St Antony’s Church instead of the 9am prayers for Easter. The decision saved him and his family.
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