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A little murukku was all she wanted
By Marisa de Silva
"Amma mate murukku oney…" was as fate would have it, three-year-old Sudeepa Kumari's last words to her mother just before she was caught in the crossfire of the underworld killing of "Bandhu Aiyya"(as he was referred to in the Grandpass neighbourhood) last Tuesday morning.

Little Sudeepa or 'Sudhu Manike' as she was fondly known awoke that fateful day as always at about 10 a.m., and before even having her morning milk, had insisted on going with her brother to the "watte kade" to buy a packet of murukku, said her grief-stricken mother. Being the youngest and only girl in a family of six, her five older brothers doted on the little girl and would indulge her every whim. As the two older brothers were out at work, her third brother Arun (name changed) had carried her (as usual) to the little store near their home.

On their return from the store, Sudeepa had begged her brother to let her walk as she was eager to try out her new pair of rubber slippers that she had received as a gift. Thus, when the shooting took place, she was hit near the base of her spine by a stray bullet. Arun had no idea of the drama taking place behind him. He assumed he had heard crackers and that his kid sister had stumbled and fallen. However, as he bent down to help her up, she had placed her hand on the wound and whilst reaching out for him showed him the blood on her hand. On seeing the blood (still not aware that his sister had been shot) he had carried her and run home.

Sudeepa's eldest brother who had returned home for a cup of tea, had together with his mother and Arun then rushed her to the nearest hospital. On the way there, they realised that Sudeepa was in fact bleeding from her chest as well, the bullet having pierced her little body. Although, doctors at the hospital had operated on her and tried their utmost to save her, she succumbed to her injuries within a few hours.

Having lost their father, a fisherman, 3 ½ years ago to a heart attack, Sudeepa's family have had more than their share of hardships. However, their love for each other has sustained them and the two older brothers (aged 21 and 19) have shouldered most of the burden of providing for the family.

Neighbours say that they too had heard the gunshots but had assumed they were firecrackers being lit to greet the newly weds from next door, returning home. However, when they came out on to the street, they saw the body of "Bandhu Aiyya". Hardly ever coming out to play with the other children, Sudeepa was rarely seen near the 'watte kade', the neighbours said. Therefore, it was some great misfortune that brought her there, that day, they add sadly.

“My ‘Sudhu Manike’ was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.Who could have something against a 3½ year old child?" the distraught mother lamented. Late last year a similar incident occurred in Moratuwa where an innocent child was caught in the crossfire between two rival underworld gangs. The community is appalled at the tragic loss of an innocent, the government offers compensation to the family and within a few months everyone moves on… or do they?

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