Son kills father under sudden provocation

by Ananda Agalakada and Sanath Gamage - Lunawa Grp. Corr

The house where Kasun and his parents lived in good times

Neighbours refused to take the victim to hospital

The scene of the tragedy

'Son kills father' ran the headline in a local daily. A heinous crime unimaginable. What kind of son is capable of such an atrocity against his own father? What kind of a situation would lead to such a violent end for a father? Looking beyond society's alarming trend reveals society's most alarming undercurrent: These are neglected and abused children whose options are limited--children who honestly think they have no other way out. In this instance too a son thought his only alternative was to teach his father a lesson for ill treating his mother and sister which might be a the thinking behind any caring son.

Kasun Thushara was the son of Ruwan Pathirana and Devalamalgamage Priyanka. He loved his parents and his only sister. Kasun's dreams always centered around his family and their well-being. His father Ruwan who lived a decent life was later addicted to liquor. From the time he began consuming liquor, it was no turning back for him. The peace in Kasun's house was shattered. Day in and day out chaos prevailed and for Kasun his sanctuary at one time now turned out to be a living hell.

It was on March 3, 1995 Ruwan Pathirana Udara and Dewalamallagamage Priyanka tied the knot with a lot of expectation.

They lived in Ratnapura and spent a peaceful life Later Priyanka gave birth to a son and then to a daughter. However, after a few years the peace which prevailed was shattered as Ruwan began consuming liquor and turned out to be an unimaginable toper. He woke up in the morning and all he did was consume liquor.

Kasun who was a well brought up child enjoyed life but later became depressed. His mother ensured that she did everything in her capacity to make her children happy and contented although her husband was the worse for liquor. He soon neglected his studies, did not sleep much either and his daily visits to the playground stopped. He did not go to the school as he usually did.

He could not play like with his friends. He often cursed himself for being born. His father who was drunk most of the time always took it out on the children and the victim turned out to be Kasun. His father's daily blows had anaesthetised him against pain and he became s used to it that the blows did not did not inflict any pain.

Eleven-year-old Piumi was his sister and Kasun often worried about her future. He wanted a good education for her but in the current situation this was only a dream.

He often thought that he had to protect his mother and sister and told them on numerous occasions that he feared for their future. He however tried hard to live on conciliatory terms with his father for the sake of his mother and sister.

Kasun often thought beyond his years as he mentally took over the father's role. He asked his mother how much dowry she needed to get his sister married when she came of age.

Kasun who feared his father's wrath later became brave and often faced him. When his father assaulted his mother he intervened which at times ended in blows exchanged between his father and himself.

"When my father was assaulting my mother, I asked him what was the reason to hit her. At that time I pleaded of him not to hit her" Kasun told Police later.

"Then my father asked me who I was to intervene and he began to assault her and me. After consuming liquor, he could not understand whether I was his son and my mother was his wife. He just lived to drink" Kasun said.

"However, I always tried to control my father when he tried to assault my mother. But he did not stop and my sister used to cry on those occasions as she could not do anything else," he said.

Kasun told Police that one day his father had shown some indecent photographs to his sister and that he was aghast.

He said he could not believe that his father had stooped to such a low level. "Then I became more worried for my mother's life and sister's future. He also assaulted me in a cruel manner" he said.

"When he again began to assault her under sudden provocation I gave a blow on his head with a club. He was knocked unconscious and fell in a pool of blood.

As soon as my father fell my mother began weeping by his side".

A few days ago Kasun took a decision to end the harassment. On that fateful day his drunken father started a brawl as usual and Kasun took a club and gave him two blows on his head.

"My education and my sister's education were in tatters due to him. I could not control my emotion and could not see my mother and sister suffering because of my father's harassment.

On that fateful day we went to bed after dinner.

My father did not sleep and he was muttering to himself and came to my mother's room.

I was with my mother at the time" Kasun told police unfolding the story of what happened on that day. Even neighbours who witnessed the heinous acts of Kasun's father refused to take him to hospital. Later after receiving a call the Ambalanthota police officials rushed to the scene but was found dead at that time.

According to neighbours Kasun's family had lived in a rented house in Ratnapura earlier. Later Ruwan had settle down in Welioya and then finally moved to Prabodarama Road in Ambalanthota with his family.

When police were putting the hand cuffs on Kasun, neighbours felt sorry for Kasun because he tried everything to lead a happy life. Neighbours sympathised with him but not with his dead father.

OIC of the Ambalanthota police IP W. Wijeratne, Crime OIC Wannigama and a police team will conducting further investigation on the instructions of ASP G.G. Dhanapala in the Hambanthota police division.