NEENAGOPAL

THEASSASSINATIONOFRAJIVGANDHI

PENGUINBOOKS

Contents

1.TheAssassination2.TheHuntfortheAssassins3.TheJaffnaConspiracy4.TheTamilCard—StrategyorBlunder?5.TheRAWTruth6.WhiteVans,WhiteFlags7.TheTrialandtheConspiracies8.TheLostLegacy

EpilogueFootnote2.TheHuntfortheAssassins3.TheJaffnaConspiracy4.TheTamilCard—StrategyorBlunder?5.TheRAWTruth

FollowPenguinCopyright

1TheAssassination

RARELYDOESONEGETAringsideviewofacataclysmiceventthatchangesthecourseofhistoryinone’sowncountry,letaloneaneighbouringone—aneventwhichgoesontoalterone’slifeinahundreddifferentways.WithRajivGandhi’sassassination,nothingwasthesameagain.Everythingchanged...Hemusthavediedinstantly,fallingfacedownasthebombdetonated,lying

thereinamangled,bloodiedheap,onlyhiswhite-and-redscarfandhisoutsizedrunningshoesintact.Hisclotheshadbeenblownoffhisback;onlythetopofhisheadwasvisible.Inamatterofseconds,afairlystandardreportaboutacharismaticpolitician

onthecomebacktrail,albeitaGandhiscion,aformerprimeministerandbarelyforty-sixatthetime,wastransformed—tragically—intooneofthebiggeststoriesIhadevercovered.Itcatapultedmefromanunknownreportertosomeonewhowouldalwaysbe

knownasthelastjournalisttohaveinterviewedRajivGandhi,minutesbeforehedied.Amacabretwist.AndnotthekindofexclusiveIhadbargainedfor.Inthelasttwenty-fiveyears,everytimethatnighthascomeupincasual

conversation,ithasunfailinglyrecalledtheimageofRajivGandhilyingontheground,oneoutstretchedarmsportingtheonlyostentatiousthingabouthim,theGucciwatchhehadbeenwearingduringourhour-longinteraction.Andyes,hisLottoshoes.Astriteasitmaysound,itseemedalmostasifhehadbeenwalkingonairthatnight,exudingconfidencethathewasonhiswaybacktotheprimeminister’soffice.Buttherehenowlay,cutdowninhisprime,lessthanafewfeetawayfrom

whereIstoodrootedtothespot,inshock.

Icanstillrecall,inthatsplitsecondbeforetheexplosion,thestrangewhooshingsound;aseriesofsputters,followedbyamassive,resoundingblastaccompaniedbyagreat,blindingflashoflight.Theheat,searing,singeing,knockedmebackwithitsstrength,rainingdeathoneveryoneinfrontofme.Ididn’tknowwhatexactlyhadhappened.Ilookedaroundpeeringthroughthe

smoke.Thereseemedtobenooneelseinfront.CouldIreallybethelastmanstanding?

RajivGandhihadlandedattheGuindyairport,astone’sthrowfromthemorewell-knownfacilityatMeenambakam,justbeforesundownthatday,pilotinghisownplane.AclutchofCongresspartyworkersandsomejournalistsfromthelocalnewspaperswerethere,aswereboredpolicemenwhodidn’tbataneyelidwhenIwalkedintotheroomsatoneendofthearrivalloungeattheairport,whichhadbeenearmarkedforVVIPguests.Icheckedoutthedankinteriors,notedpaintpeelingfromthewalls,theterribletoilets,thebedswithlessthancleansheets,andthecompletelackofsecurity.ThiswaswheretheCongresschiefwastobebilletedthatnight.AsRajivGandhiwalkedintothearrivalhall,along,narrowroom,he

instantlyspottedmeandwavedmetohisside.Icouldn’ttellwhetherthehundredsofmessagesIhadbombardedeveryCongressofficewith,asRajivGandhicriss-crossedthecountryonthefirstlegofthecampaign,hadbeenconveyedtohim.Eitherway,afterendlesstelephonecalls,IhadfinallytrackeddownRajivGandhi’scampaignmanagerandformerdiplomat,ManiShankarAiyar,whohadtoldmeonthenightof20MaytobepresentatGuindythenextday,andpromisedhewouldensureanexclusiveinterviewduringthecourseofRajivGandhi’selectionhaltatMadras(nowChennai).SothereIwas.WehadmetonlymonthsbeforewhenRajivGandhi,accompaniedbyhis

wife,Sonia,hadstoppedoverinDubaienroutetoBombayfromMoscowandTehran.AtareceptionhostedattheHyattRegencybythelocalIndiancommunity,Ihadspenttimewithhimdiscussingthehottopicoftheday—hisjourneybytrainfromDelhitoLucknow,justafterhisZsecurityhadbeenwithdrawn.ItwasonlythesecondtimethatImethimbuthewaschattyand

approachable,andspokeatlengthaboutthedriftinIndiaunderthenewgovernmentandtheneedtorebuildtieswithMoscowandTehran.SoniaGandhi,unliketheself-assured,confidentleaderofthepartysheis

today,wasnervous,fidgetyandcompletelyoutofhercomfortzone,askingmerepeatedlywhetherIwasrecordingtheconversationwithher.WhichIwasnot.RajivGandhi’spressureontheChandrashekhargovernmenthadensuredthat

theUnitedStateswasdeniedpermissiontorefuelitsfighteraircraftinIndiaattheheightoftheGulfWar.Hehadbeenatthereceivingendofcriticalpressinthewesternmediaforthatdecision,asitforcedtheUStocontinuetorefuelfromtheIndianOceanislandofDiegoGarcia.RajivGandhi’sCongresspartywouldsubsequentlypulltheplugontheminorityChandrashekhargovernment,settinginmotiontheMay1991pollsthatwouldclaimhislife.OnceIgottheheads-upfromAiyar,IscrappedplanstocoverJayalalitha’s

campaigninherconstituency.Infact,on20May,whileIwasstandingoutsideJayalalitha’stonyPoesGardenhomeinMadrasalongwithacrowdofherdie-hardsupporters,shehadsloweddownandstoppedhercarwhenshesawmewavingand,inresponsetoarequest,agreedtoletmeaccompanyherthenextdaywhensheplannedtoheadtoBodinayakanur,theconstituencyfromwhereshewasstandingforelections.Sheaskedmetobethereatthecrackofdawn.ThiswastobetheAllIndiaAnnaDravidaMunnetraKazhagam(AIADMK)

leader’sfirstandimmenselysuccessfulbidtobecomechiefministerofTamilNaduforthefirsttimesincethedemiseofhermentor,theiconicformerchiefministerofTamilNadu,M.G.Ramachandran,MGR.Butinanoddtwistoffatethatevening,IwentfromJayalalitha’sPoesGarden

housetotheheadquartersoftheDravidaMunnetraKazhagam(DMK)andthentotheCongresschief’soffice.AttheDMKheadquarters,thetopicofdiscussionwashowmuchofathreatJayalalithaposedtotheparty,andhowtheCongressmustbecuttosizeaseverypre-pollsurveyindicatedthattheCongress,pittedagainstadividedOpposition,wouldn’tdotoobadlynationally.AttheCongresspartyofficeImetwiththethenTamilNaduCongressCommitteehead,VazhapadiRamamurthy.Therehadbeenstrayincidentsofviolencethroughoutthedayinthecity.

Withoutmuchprompting,Vazhapadiwarnedmethathehadheardfromthegrapevinetherewouldbeviolencethenextdayaswell,whileconfirming,tomy

greatexcitement,thatRajivGandhiwasindeedarrivinglatethenextnightandwouldmostprobablyaddressarally,notfarfromMadrasatSriperumbudur.WhetherhewashintingthattherewouldbesomekindofviolenceatRajiv

Gandhi’srallyornot,Ihaveneverbeenabletofathom—andI’vereplayedthatconversationinmyheadazilliontimesover.Couldhehavebeenwarningmeoff?Whatdidheknow?Afterall,Vazhapadiwasthefirst—andonly—persontotalk,afulltwenty-fourhoursbeforetheassassination,ofthedangersposedbytheSriLankanTamilswhowerebasedinsizeablenumbersinMadrasandhowtheirverypresenceinthecityandthestatewasnotconducivetopeaceorsafety.Thewarningwascouchedinthevaguestofterms,anditwasonlywhenIwas

sendingoffmyreportontheassassinationthatIrememberedwhathehadsaid,connectedthedotsandwoveitintothestory,therebybecomingoneofthefirstreporterstopointfingersattheLiberationTigersofTamilEelam(LTTE)asthepossibleperpetrators.Momentsaftertheassassination,onthenightof21May,oneoftheseniorofficersoftheMadraspoliceIhadaccostedatSriperumbudurhadraisedtheinvolvementoftheTigersasadistinctpossibility.Infact,unbeknownsttomostpeopleinauthority,andwithoutevenknowingforcertainiftheLTTEwasinvolved,theMadraspolicehadbegunroundingupSriLankanstudentsofTamiloriginandthrowingthemintojail.Yearslater,Ravindran,themanageroftheTamilnewspaperVirakesariin

Jaffna,SriLanka,wouldtellmehowhenevermanagedtofinishhisengineeringdegreebecauseofthatonenightwhenhewasarrestedandkeptinaMadrasjailforafewdays,beforehehot-footeditbackhome.

Acommercialpilotbeforeheenteredpolitics,RajivGandhihadflownhisownplanefromVisakhapatnamwherehehadaddressedarallyearlierthateveningforCongresscandidateUmaGajapathiRaju.SriperumbudurwouldhavebeencalledoffinalllikelihoodhadRajiv

Gandhi’splane,whichhaddevelopedtechnicalproblemsinVisakhapatnam,notbeenfixedattheverylastminute.HundredsofsupporterslinedthestreetsallthewaytoSriperumbuduronthe

bumpy,narrowroadfromMadras.Everytimethecarslowedandthecrowd

pushedforward,peoplewouldreachthroughtheopenwindowandpinchhischeek!EnroutetoSriperumbudurandthenagainasweturnedintotherallygrounds,

somethingstruckme—securityfortheformerprimeminister,virtuallynon-existentafterprimeministersV.P.SinghandChandrashekharhadwithdrawnhisZsecurity,couldopenthedoortoanattackofsomekind.Therewasaseaofflagsflutteringfromthepolesthatringedtherallyvenue

andapodiumatthefarend.ButunlikeotherpollrallieswheretherewasacleardemarcationbetweentheVIPareaandtheseatingareafortheaudience,therewasjustopengroundwithafewhundredpeoplemillingaboutwithinthebamboobarricades,shoutingslogans.Thelightingwasextremelypoor.Mostoftheplacewasindarknessastheformerprimeminister’scarapproached.Someonehadclearlyskimpedonthearrangementswhenthevenueoftherallywasshiftedfromthelocalcollegetothetemplegrounds.AndIsaidso.Inmymind’seye,IcanstillseeRajivGandhi’sgentlesmilethatshowednot

theslightestirritationatthelessthanconducivearrangementsattherallyvenue.Icanstillhearhisvoiceasheturnedhisheadandhalf-jokinglyaskedlocalmemberofParliamentMargathamChandrashekharwhowassittinginthebackseatofthecarwhereIwas,kneeling,wedgeduncomfortablyintothetinyspacebetweenthedriverandRajivGandhi,‘DidyouhearwhatNeenajustsaid,Margatham?Whyaretherenolights?Whyisitsodimlylit?Thereseemtobeveryfewpeople.Whereareyoursupporters?Thisdoesn’tseemlikeanelectionrallyatall...’Half-jokingornot,hewasn’tfaroffthemark.Thegovernment’sinexplicablescrappingofRajivGandhi’ssecurityeven

thoughtheCongressleader’slifewasunderthreathadsetLutyens’Delhispeculatingonwhethertherewasmoretothemovethanmettheeye,andhadlaidhimwideopenandvulnerabletoattack.Giventhefamily’srecenthistoryofdeathsandassassinations,theremovalof

theBlackCatscoverdidn’tmakesense.RajivGandhi’syoungerbrother,Sanjay,haddiedundermysteriouscircumstancesinaplanecrashin1980,withspeculationrifethatthetwo-seateraircrafthadbeensabotaged,whilehismother,theindomitableIndiraGandhihadbeengunneddownin1984byherownSikhbodyguardswhohadbeenreinstatedagainsttheexplicitinstructionsofintelligenceagencies.

Asthecarinwhichweweretravellinghityetanotherpothole,agroupofslogan-shoutingsupporterstriedtograbhimthroughtheopenwindow.Hewasevenlituplikeabeacon,withalightfixtureabovethewindscreenfocuseddirectlyonhim.Therewaslittledoubtthatatonelevel,RajivGandhisawthemasshysteriawhereverhewentasasignofhisimmensepopularity,asavindicationthatthepeoplestilllovedhimandthatheremainedhisparty’smainvote-catcher.Butatsomelevel,hewasconcerned.Whilenobodycouldhavepredictedthathislifewouldbesnuffedoutjustlikethatonlyminuteslater,hehadanalmostprescientpremonitionofhisowndeath.Unsettledbythecompleteabsenceofsecurity—nogunmanwouldhavebeen

abletoprotecthim,hadsomeonelungedathimthroughtheopenwindowwithaknifeortakenashotathim—Ihadaskedhim,pointedly,whetherhefelthislifewasatrisk,moresonowthattherewasabsolutelynosecuritybeyondtheonetokenbodyguard,whowas,incidentally,inanothercar.RajivGandhirespondedwithacounter-question:‘Haveyounoticedhow

everytimeanySouthAsianleaderofanyimportrisestoapositionofpowerorisabouttoachievesomethingforhimselforhiscountry,heiscutdown,attacked,killed...lookatMrs[Indira]Gandhi,SheikhMujib,lookatZulfikarAliBhutto,atZia-ul-Haq,Bandaranaike...’Withinminutesofmakingthatbone-chillingpropheticstatementthathinted

thereweredarkforcesatworkandthatheknewhewasatarget,RajivGandhihimselfwouldbegone.

Asweturnedoffthemainroad,therewasamandatoryburstofwelcomingfirecrackers.Wehadstoppedonaslopeonslightlyhighergroundandhadwalkeddowntheapproach,afewhundredyardsorsototheopenspaceinfrontofthemaintempleatSriperumbudur,wherearedcarpethadbeenlaidout.Steppingoutfromthefrontseat,RajivGandhihadsaid,‘Come,come,follow

me,’andIhaddemurred,walkingtothebackandaroundandthentothefrontofthecarsoIcouldhaveabird’s-eyeviewofthevenue,withouthavingtodealwiththethrong.‘Ihaveonemorequestion,’Ihadsaid.‘I’llwaitforyouhere.’

Abomb,asuicidebomber,letalonethefirstfemalesuicidebomberonIndiansoil,wasthelastthingonanyone’smindasRajivGandhiplungedintothecrowdofsupportersonhiswaytothepodiumatthefarsideoftheground,shakinghands,smilingwarmly,aswashiswont,ateveryonewhoreachedouttohim.ButasthehugeexplosionwentoffafewminuteslaterandI,standingabout

tenstepsaway,feltwhatIlaterrealizedwasbloodandgorefromthevictimssplatterallovermyarmsandmywhitesari,anamelessdreadtookhold—somethingterriblehadhappenedtothemanIhadjustbeentalkingwith.ThelasttimeIhadfollowedRajivGandhiintoacrowdhadbeenexactlytwo

yearsearlier,in1989,inKalwakurthy,theconstituencyoftheAndhraPradeshchiefminister,thelarger-than-lifeN.T.RamaRao,whereRajivGandhiwassettocampaign.Backthen,wehaddriveninwhathadseemedlikeanendless100-car

cavalcade,completewithBlackCatcommandosandtopsecurity,allthewayfromHyderabadtothevenue.AsIgotouttofollowRajivGandhi,awaveofpeopleconvergedaroundtheCongressleaderwhowassurroundedbybodyguards,evenasIwasknockedintoanarrowlittleditch.Unabletomoveforseveralminutes,andoutforthecount,Isensedratherthansawdozensofpeoplejumpingoverme.Thistime,IwasdeeplyreluctanttofollowRajivGandhiintothecrowd.AtSriperumbudur,hehadnosuchcompunctions.Minutesafterhewalked

unhesitatinglyintothecrowd,therewasadeafeningsoundasthebombsplutteredtolifeandexplodedinablindingflash.Everythingchanged.Amomentthat,inmyhead,willalwaysbefrozenintime.Itwasexactly

10.21p.m.

Monthsearlier,inFebruary1991,whilecoveringthefirstGulfWarandtheliberationofKuwaitbyAlliedForcesandNATO,IhadwalkedthebeachesofKuwaitwithateamofFrenchde-miners.Ihadafairknowledgeofwhatbombslookedandsoundedlike.Except,theFrenchkeptyouatasafedistance,outofharm’sway,andinsistedyouusetheearplugstheyprovidedwhentheydetonatedtheClaymoremines.

WhosawSriperumbudurcoming...Sowhenthesuicidebomberdidsetoffherbomb,thefirstthingIsaidto

SumanDubey,RajivGandhi’smediaadviser—IhadstoppedtotalktohiminsteadoffollowingRajivGandhiintothecrowd—wasthatthiswasnoordinaryblast,quicklycorrectingmyfirstreactionasIscannedthesceneinfrontofme,from‘Thatsoundslikeaveryoddfirecracker’to‘No,no,that’sdefinitelyabomb.’Thesilenceoncethebombwentoffmusthavelastedlessthanafractionofa

second.Butthatmoment,untilallhellbrokeloose,theshrieksandthewailing,wasthestuffofnightmares.NoneofthewarcoverageIhaddoneinKuwaitorIraqhadpreparedmeforthis.Everysinglepersonaheadofmehaddiedintheblast.Bitsoftheirclothinghadbeensearedontotheirbodies,butmostofithadbeenburntoff.Theirexposedfleshlookedasifithadbeenroasted,blackened.Itwasagrislysight.Raw,stillbleedingfromtheirwounds,manylayfaceup,amangledmassoftangledbodies.Deadpeople.Therewereheadlesstorsos,bodyparts,armsandlegs...Somewerebarelyalive;manyweredying,stackedupagainstthegrislydead.Itwasmacabre,ascenefromhell.Asthepanickedcrowdaroundmeandontheothersideofthescenetookto

theirheels,thepeoplescreamingastheycamerunningup,somecomingstraightatmeasItriedtomovetowardsthesiteoftheblast,Iwasshovedthiswayandthat.Astheyranpast,andinalldirections,apartofmenotedthatmanywerepoliceandsecuritypersonnel.Intheensuingmelee,fewcaredthatastheypushedasidetheflimsybamboobarricadesandbrokethroughtherowsofchairs,theyweresteppingoveraclutchofthefreshlydead.Gonewastheexcitedcrowdthathadbeenshoutingandcheeringonlyseconds

before.Initsplacewerethewails,thescreams,asIranforward;andthen,someonebehindmepulledmebackjustintimeandsaidinTamil,‘Watchout,you’reabouttosteponsomebody’sarm.’Therevulsion,thehorrorwascomplete.AsIfoughtmywaythroughtotheblastsitethatwasonlyafewfeetaway,

steppingoverthedebrisofthedeadandthebrokenbarricades,theonethoughtrunningthroughmyheadwasthefateofRajivGandhi.Hewasintheresomewhereinthatmassofbodies.Howseriouswasit?Couldhehavesurvivedit?Couldhebedead?

AndthenIsawhisbody.ItwasasightIwouldneverforget.‘Whyishejustlyingthere?Whydoesn’tsomeonehelphimup?Someone

shouldgethimtoahospital,gethimimmediateemergencytreatment...Whereistheemergencymedicalteam?Hassomeonecalledthehospital?’Isaidoutloud.Noonewaslistening.Thenext,andfarmoreselfish,jumbleofthoughtsthatcrowdedinwashowto

getoutofthere.Ihadtofindthedriverofmycar.Ihadnoideawherehewas.AfterwelefttheMeenambakamairportearlierthatevening,thecavalcade

accompanyingRajivGandhihadsloweddownattheturnofffromtheGrandSouthernTrunkRoadtothe25-kilometredrivetoSriperumbudur.Aman,clearlyasecurityguard,wasmovingsteadilydownthelineofcars,peeringintoeachcarandaskingsomething.Hereachedmycarandasked,‘NeenaGopal?’WhenIsaid‘Yes’,hegesturedformetofollowhim.IguessedIwasfinallygettingtheinterviewwiththemanwhoeverypre-pollsurveypredictedwouldbethenextprimeministerand,inmyexcitement,Ileftmycameraandmyhandbag—andallthecashIhad—inmycar,tellingthedrivertostaycloseandcomelookingformewhenwestopped.Intheaftermathoftheblast,withouthavinganywayofcommunicatingwiththedriverwhomaywellhavefledtoo,IknewIwasstranded.HowwasIgoingtogetbacktoMadrastofilethestory?Howlongwouldittaketogetfromheretothecity?Wherewasthenearesttelephone?HowwasIgoingtotellmyeditorsatGulfNews,Dubai,intheUnitedArabEmirateswhereIwasbased,thatIhadjustwitnessedthegoryendofoneofIndia’smostbelovedleaders?

Astheterrifiedcrowdfledfromthespotwherethedeadandinjuredlay,andbewildered,anxioussurvivorsranthroughthegatheringthronginthesemi-darkness,IspottedCongressleadersG.K.MoopanarandJayantiNatarajan,andMargathamwhohadbeeninthecarwithme,andatwhosebehesttheformerprimeministerhadmadeaspecialefforttoaddressthisoddlytimed,late-nightelectionrally.Theylookedshaken,aghast,devastatedatthesightofRajivGandhi’sprone,

seeminglylifelessbody.Margathamlookedshattered,asifherworldhadended.

RajivGandhihadonlycometoSriperumbudurat‘Aunty’s’request.ThenextdaybothNatarajanandMoopanarwouldseparatelytellmehowthey

hadtriedtoliftRajivGandhifromthegroundbutcouldn’tashisbody‘simplydisintegratedintheirhands’.Worse,howatthatcrucialmoment,theycouldn’tfindasinglepoliceman,barringRajivGandhi’spersonalbodyguard,PradipKumarGupta(themanwhohadcomelookingforme),whowaslyingrightnexttoRajivGandhiandhaddiedintheblast.Therewasnoambulance—nowanacceptedfixtureatelectionrallies.They

couldn’tfindanymedicalpersonnel,orastretcherorgurneyorevenavehicletogethimtothenearesthospital.Infact,withinminutesoftheblast,twocars,oneawhiteAmbassadorflashingaredbeacon,andanotherthatcamefromsomewhereintheback,hadbackedontothemainroadandspedaway.Themoodonthegroundwasgettingdecidedlyugly.AtthespotwhereRajiv

Gandhi’sbodylay,itwasgettingmoreandmoredifficulttoholdone’sgroundashissupportersclosedin,mutteringunintelligiblyundertheirbreath.Theundercurrentofangerandhostilitywaspalpable,asthepartyworkersattheill-chosenvenuebegantoshout‘VazhigeRajivGandhi!Vazhige!(LongliveRajivGandhi!Longlive!),’notknowing,perhaps,howinappropriateasloganitwas.Itwasapparenttheywerestilllookingforsomewaytoventtheirfury,andwereonlyholdingbackfromheadingoutandsmashingeverythingaroundthembecauseitwasunclearwhatexactlyhadhappenedtoRajivGandhi—whetherhewasdeadorgrievouslyinjured,andwhoexactlywasbehindtheblast.ItwastheDMK,saidonemanwithgreatcertainty.‘Kalaingar’(themoniker

forMuthuvelKarunanidhi)hatedRajivGandhiandhadopenlysaidthathemustbestopped.HiswordselicitedloudmurmursofsupportfromthethrongofCongressworkers,untilanothermansaiditwasn’ttheDMKatallandwaspromptlyslappedandpushedaround.Nobodywasthinkingstraight.AsRajivGandhilaythere,andMoopanartriedtokeepthethrongatbay,thecrowdwasvocalizingwhatwasgoingthroughallourminds.OnemankeptinsistingthatRajivGandhihadsurvivedtheblast;thathewas

onlyinjuredandallthatwasrequiredwasforsomeone,anyone,totakehimtothenearbyhospital.Manyconcurred.Noneofthemcouldevencountenancetheprospectthathehadbreathedhislast,asthetearfulcrowdskeptsaying‘Paapa,

rosapoomaadhiriyirikidai(Poorman,helookslikearose),’areferencetoRajivGandhi’sfairskin.Noonecouldsaytheunsayable.Fromthecornerofmyeye,IfinallysawavehiclethatIpresumedwasan

ambulance,lightsflashing,tryingtomakeitswayfromthemainroadthatwehadleftonlyminutesearlier.Blockedbythecrowd,itwasinchingitswayforward.Ihadtomovewithit,followtheambulancecarryingRajivGandhi’sbody,takethestorytoitslogicalconclusion.Byastrokeofluck,asIwaspushingmywaythroughthecrowd,tryingto

findthecarthatIhadhiredfortheevening,RajivGandhi’sdriveremergedfromthemelee.Ididn’tknowhimpersonallybuthecalledouttomeandsaidhehadbeenlookingformeeverywhere.Catchingmebythearm,hesaid,‘Weshouldleave;it’snotsafehere.Anythingcanhappen.Let’sgo,let’sgo,IwilltakeyoubacktoMadras.Oncetheprotestsstart,therewillberiots,theywillblockalltheroads;wewon’tbeabletogetback.’BrushingasidemyprotestsaboutabandoningtheCongressleadersifweleft,

andhowweshouldstaywithRajivGandhi’sbody,heinsistedthatIgowithhim,assuringmewewouldfollowthebody,whichwewereanywayill-equippedtotransport.Withnosignofmydriverandrealizingthiswasmyonlywaybacktothecity,Ijumpedinashequicklyreversedthecar.WeinchedourwayoutofthevenueasIcontinuedtoscanthesceneformydriverwhowasnowheretobefound.Wefollowedtheambulancetoahospitaljustahead;checkedwhetherRajiv

Gandhi’sbodywouldbekeptthereovernightand,receivingconflicting,contradictoryreportsfromthebewilderedmedicalpersonnelthere,withnoonereadytoconfirmordenythathehadindeeddied,weracedtoMadrasbeforethemobshadachancetoblocktheroadsintothecity.AttheCentralTelegraphOfficeonMountRoad,asItypedthecopy,foronce

thesleepytelexoperatorswereallawake.Theystoodbehindme,theirjawsdropping,readingthestoryasIwroteit.RajivGandhiwasdead.Assassinatedat10.21p.m.on21May1991.

OnceIfiledthestoryandreturnedtomyuncle-in-law’sapartmentonHarringtonRoadinMadras,whereIwasstaying,Ifieldedtelephonecallsfrommyanxiousfamily,particularlymyhusband,whosaidthattheminutehesawthenewsoftheassassinationontelevisioninDubai,hewascertaininhisheartthatIwasthere!Ispoketoourdaughter,Shwetha,whowasnotyettenatthetime.BlissfullyunawareofhowcloseIhadcometobeingblownup,shehappilypouredoutthetravailsofherdayatschoolasIsoundeddeterminedlycheerful,whilemakingamentalnotethatsheneededabrotherorasisterandshouldnotbealone.Ourseconddaughter,Sharada,wouldbebornjustoverninemonthslater,apreciouspregnancythatwouldhavemeconfinedtothebedtillshewasborn.Myhusband’swonderfuluncle,M.K.Ramdas,wasfieldingalltheothercalls,

includingthecriticalonefromhiscousinM.K.Narayanan(whowasalsomyhusband’suncle).NarayananheadedtheIntelligenceBureau(IB)andwantedeverysingledetailofthenight’sterribleevents.HelistenedpatientlyasIdescribedwhatIhadseen,askingmerepeatedlyabouttheringoffirethatIinsistedIhadseenaroundRajivGandhiashelayontheground,minutesafterthebombhadexploded.Onlymuchlaterwouldithitmethatiftherewasindeedaringofflamesaroundtheblastsite,itwouldimplytheuseoflandmines.Thenextmorning,anIBteamassignedbyNarayanancametohearmy

accountaftertheyhadreconnoitredtheSriperumbudurarea.TheysaidtheysawnoevidenceofaringoffirebutconcededthatwhatIhadseenmusthavebeentheflameswhenthevictims’possessionsandclothescaughtfire.TheylistenedasIdescribedtheshockinglackofsecurityforaformerprimeministerwhohadonlyfouryearsearliersurvivedanassassinationattemptinColombobyaSriLankannavalrating.Evenatthatpoint,aswemournedthedeathofawonderfullywarmhuman

being,fewhadaclueaboutwhowasactuallyresponsibleforthekilling.Theinvestigatorshadn’tyetgonepublicwiththefactthataseniorpolicemanandhisteamhadstumbleduponacamerathathadcapturedtellingimagesofRajivGandhi’sassassins.Iwasinlimbo,insomesortofabubble.Inshock.ItwasonlywhenIgotback

tomyparents’homeinBangalore(nowBengaluru)andmynormallyundemonstrativeparentsenvelopedmeinahighlyunusualbearhugthatIbegantoshiveruncontrollablyandallowedmyselftocryandmournthepassingof

RajivGandhi.ThefullhorrorofwhatIhadwitnessed,andtheimagesandemotionsthatIhadblockedandsuppressedforseventy-twohourscamerushingback.

On24May,thenationstayedrivetedtotelevisionscreensasthefuneral,attendedbydignitariesfromoversixtycountries,wastelecastlive.ThemortalremainsofRajivGandhiwereconsignedtoflamesonthebanksoftheYamuna;hisstoicson,Rahul,anddaughter,Priyanka,thecynosureofalleyes.Dayslater,IreceivedacallfromtheIndianembassyinAbuDhabi.Rajiv

Gandhi’swidowhadsentamessageaskingmetomeetherattheirNewDelhihomeat10,Janpath.IflewtoDelhion31Mayand,asIwalkedfromtheCongresspartyofficetothepathwaythatledtothehousethatRajivGandhihadcalledhome,alongsidetheGandhiman-FridayV.George,IwasaccostedbyseveralseniorCongressmen,sayingImustfindoutatanycost,whetherSoniaGandhiwouldleadtheCongressparty!Inside,inaroomlinedwithbooksandalongtablewhereRajivGandhihad

oftenbeenphotographedconfabulatingwithhiscabinet,wasSoniaGandhi,herfacedevoidofmake-up,afarcryfromthebeautifullycoiffedcreaturewhomIhadmetonhervisittoDubaiafewmonthsago.Shereachedacross,heldbothmyhandsinhersandsaid,‘Tellmeeverything,tellmewhathesaid,whatmoodwashein,whatwerehislastmomentslike.Iwanttohearitfromyou,everytinydetail.Washehappy,washetense,whatwerehislastwords...’Tearsstreamingdownhercheeks—and,Irealized,minetoo—andstill

holdingontomyhands,shelistenedasIrecountedthelastforty-fiveminutesofIndia’syoungestprimeminister’slife;hisunexpecteddeathclosingthechapteronIndia’salltoobriefCamelot.

2TheHuntfortheAssassins

IFR.K.RAGHAVAN,INSPECTORGENERALofpoliceinchargeofsecurityatSriperumbudur,hadn’tstumbleduponacamerasittingatopadeadmanintheaftermathoftheblast,thestoryoftheprobeintotheassassinationofRajivGandhiwouldhavebeenverydifferent.Theobjectofmuchscorninthemediaforthetwolowpointsinhiscareer:the

probeintothe2002GodhrariotsthatexoneratedNarendraModiand—justoveradecadebeforethat—theappallinglypoorsecurityatRajivGandhi’selectionrallyatSriperumbuduron21May1991,RaghavanfoundavitalpieceofevidencethatsetinvestigatorsonthepathtohuntingdownRajivGandhi’sassassins.NooneknewifthecamerahadrecordedRajivGandhi’slastmoments,leastof

all,theexplosionthatclaimedthelifeofapromisingleaderandtheeighteenotherswhodiedwithhim.Notuntilthefilminthecamerawasexaminedwithinforty-eighthoursoftheassassinationandthefirstprintsweretaken—thereweretenphotographsinall—wereinvestigatorsabletozeroinontheprobablekillers.Twopeoplestoodoutinthecrowd:adark,stockyyoungwomaninanall-

envelopingsalwar-kameezandashortmaninacrumpled,ill-fitting,whitekurta-pyjama.Theblack-and-whiteframes—originallyincolour—wouldunravelthe

shockingconspiracybehindanassassinationthatonlytheMahatma’sandIndiraGandhi’scouldrivalinthiscountryforthetag,‘assassinationofthecentury’.ThephotographsgavetheLTTEnoroomforplausibledeniability;theterror

outfitwasresponsibleforunleashingtheirkarampuli,aBlackTigress,ontheirunsuspecting,firstforeigntarget.

Withoutthecamera,itmighthavebeenjustanother‘blindcase’.Unsolved.Unresolved.Neverlaidtorest.

AstheblastrippedthroughRajivGandhi’supperbodyandthrewhimfacedownonthestonyoutcropoflandneartheVIParea,Raghavanwasbarelyafewfeetaway.Herecallshowsmokefromthebombtemporarilyblindedhim.‘Icouldn’tseeanything.Ilostmyvisionforseveralminutesaftertheblast.Itwasallablur.’Aspeoplebeganscreamingandrunninginalldirections,Raghavanpushed

hiswaytowardswheretheCongressleaderhadbeenstanding—thespotthatshouldhavebeenasanitizedsecurityzonebuthadbeenbreachedinspectacularfashionwithinminutesofhisarrival.Despitethethreatperceptionthattheformerprimeministerfaced,Raghavan

claimshehadn’tfactoredinthepossibilitythatthetargetcouldbeRajivGandhi.‘Buttheminuteithitmethatitcouldbehim,thathecouldhavedied,thenlikeamadcap(sic)Ibeganshoutingforhim,byname,hopinghewouldanswerandmyfearswouldbeunfounded...until,we,MoopanarandI,andVazhapadiRamamurthywhocamerunningfromthedais,finallyfoundhim.’Infact,RaghavanbecamethefirstpersontoinspecttheshellwhichwasallthatwasleftofRajivGandhi’sbrokenbody.(MoopanarwastheformerTamilNaduCongressCommittee[TNCC]chief;Vazhapadi,theservingone.)Aspolicemenandpoliticalworkersalikeranforcover,fearingmorebombs

wouldgooff,Raghavanstoodhisground,determinedtoprotectthesceneofthecrime.ThetopcopandhisteamhadinspectedthevenueoftherallyinTamilNadu

MPMargatham’sconstituencysoonaftertheyhadbeenalertedthatRajivGandhiwascoming.First,on20May,adaybeforetheformerprimeministerwastoarrivefromHyderabad,andagainon21May,asearlyas5p.m.thatevening.‘Wedidn’texpectanyproblemsthatday,noneatall,’hesays,althoughhe

admitsthat,giventhekindofthreathewasunder,‘securityforRajivGandhiwasn’tatthelevelthatitshouldhavebeen’.Curiously,neitherformerCentral

BureauofInvestigation(CBI)JointDirectorandInspectorGeneralD.R.KaarthikeyanwhowasgivenchargeofaSpecialInvestigationTeam(SIT)withinhours,northeCommissionofInquirysetupon27MayunderJusticeJ.S.Verma,wouldprosecutethemenresponsiblefortheselapses.TheonusofthesecuritylapselayasmuchwiththeCongresspartyaswiththe

localpolice,althoughwithMargatham’spointmanA.J.Dossbrowbeatingthepoliceintosubmission,theformerwasmoretoblame.Kaarthikeyan,inhisbookTheRajivGandhiAssassination,1writesoftheoverzealousDossbrushingasideconcernsofpolicemenandTNCCofficials,andinsistingonclearingahostofpeoplewhoweregivenaccesstoRajivGandhi—twenty-threeinall—thatnight.ThelistincludedaCongressworkernamedLathaKannanwhowasgiventopclearancebecauseofherproximitytoMargatham;LathawouldprovecrucialforthebombertogainaccesstoRajivGandhi.Atthetime,itwasn’tderigueurforwomenthrongingelectionralliestobe

screened,friskedorscannedwithmetaldetectors.EvenifthemetaldetectorshadbeensetupatSriperumbuduraspolicesaytheyhad,claimingtheyhadtwometaldetectorsinplace,thequestionofhowasuicidebomber,weigheddownwithhalfakiloofRDX,gotthroughthemhasneverbeenadequatelyaddressed.Doss’scrossedwireswiththepolice—andtheTNCC—hadhimbelievingthat

thepolicewouldscreenthosetwenty-threepeople.Thepolice,ontheirpart,thoughtitwasDosswhoshouldscrutinizetheinvitees.Intheevent,theircollectivefailuretosanitizetheVIParea,keepoutpeoplewhohadnotbeenthoroughlyvettedandpositionthebarricadestokeepthecrowdsatbay,wascompletelyoverlookedbythepolicetopbrass.Raghavan,whohadservedintheSPGassignedtoRajivGandhiwhenhewas

primeminister,knewthedrillandadmitstothegapingholesinthesecurityarrangements.‘Ididseethegaps.I’dservedintheSPGforRajivGandhitentimes,’hesays,butaddsthattherewasnothinganyonecouldhavedoneatthatlatehour.Critically,intheconfusionoverwhetherornottheCongressleaderwouldbe

travellingtoMadrasthatnight,hispersonalarmedgunmanstayedbehindinHyderabad,leavingtheformerpremierwithjustonesecurityguard,PradipKumarGupta.Gupta,whoperishedintheblast,wasstandingrightbesidehimwhenthebombexploded.

Policenegligenceontheground,combinedwiththefactthatDosswascallingtheshots,allowedthesuicidebombertoquietlyattachherselftopartyworkerLathaandgetcloseenoughtoRajivGandhitoself-detonate.ButRaghavanassignstheblameelsewhere.Hesaysthatthepersonwho

shouldbeartheprimaryresponsibilityforsingle-handedlyremovingtheSPGcoverthatcouldhaveprotectedRajivGandhiandthrownasecurityringaroundhimunderexactlysuchcircumstances,wasformerprimeministerV.P.Singh.OnsucceedingRajivGandhiasprimeminister,theRajascrappedSPGprotectionforformerprimeministers,restrictingittoservingprimeministersonly.‘Historywillneverforgivehim,’saysRaghavanofV.P.Singh.‘Nobodywill.’NeithertheSITnorsubsequentcommissionsofinquiryheldV.P.Singhto

account.Nor,forthatmatter,werethemeninchargeofRajivGandhi’ssecuritywhilehewasinthestate—theTamilNadupoliceandDoss—everbroughttobook.(RajivGandhihimselfhadfamouslybroughttheChandrashekhargovernmentdownonthegroundsthatthegovernment,usingthesecuritythreatasaploytospyonhismovements,hadputhim,hishomeandhisphonesunderthesurveillanceoftwoconstablesfromHaryana.)WillhistoryjudgeRaghavanmorekindly?Ashescouredthearealookingfor

something,anything,tohelphimfindoutwhohadsetofftheexplosionandwhatkindofbombhadbeenused,hesaysheespiedthecameralyingonadeadman.‘Ithadnotbeendamagedatall,justcoveredwithearthandgrass,’hetellsme,

‘andIhadabsolutelynoideathenofthesignificanceofthatcamera.Ipickeditup,directedoneofmymentosecureitandkeepitsafeinthehopethattherewouldbesomethingthere.Ididn’tknowatthetimeifitdid.’Withoutthatonecrucialbitofevidence,thehuntfortheassassinscouldhave

takenadifferentroute.Withit,theSITwasabletopainstakinglytrackdownallthekillers,onebyone,andbringthemtojustice.

InBlackandWhite

On23May,TheHinduranoneofthephotographstakenfromthecamerathatRaghavanhadretrievedandblewthecasewideopen.ThenewSIThead,Kaarthikeyan,sayshehadn’tevenseentheoriginalprintsatthatpoint.ThefilmrollextractedfromthecamerahadbeengiventothechiefoftheTamilNaduForensicScienceLaboratory(TNFSL).TheTNFSLheadwhohadarrivedattheblastvenuewiththelocalreporterfromTheHinduwasgiventhecamera,andthenewspapergainedaccesstothecrucialrolloffilmwhenitwasdeveloped.Thephotographshockedtheworld.Thereshewas,RajivGandhi’sassassin—

thefirstfemalesuicidebomber.Andyetnoonecouldidentifyher,nooneknewanythingabouther.AccordingtotheSITwhichswiftlywenttoworkunderKaarthikeyan,apart

fromthetenframes,intelligenceofficialsstumbleduponavideorecordingoftheeventbyamusictroupethatwasentertainingthecrowdthatevening.Itshowedthesamebespectacledyoungwoman,dressedinanorangesalwar-kameez,inchingherwayforward,tryingtogetclosetotheformerpremier.Theoutfit,favouredbywomenfromthenorthandrarelywornbyTamilgirlsatthetime,caughttheattentionofthethenIBchiefNarayananaswell.(Controversially,norecordingofthatvideowassubsequentlyseenorsubmittedasevidenceandthereareunconfirmedreportsthatthepertinentsectionofthevideo,whenitdidturnup,turnedouttobeblank.)Eitherway,thiswomanwasunknown,anoutsider.Whowasshe?Whowas

themaninwhiteinthefarcornerofoneoftheotherpictures?HehadbeencroppedoutofthephotographpublishedbyTheHindubecause,asthenewspaper’seditorN.RamlatertoldtheSIT,hecouldhavebeenajournalist.Whatwastheirconnectiontotheassassination?NeitherofthemwasaCongresspartyworker.WhatbusinessdidtheyhavethatnightatSriperumbudur?Withinadaycamethepost-mortemonRajivGandhi,whichsaidhehad

‘multiplepenetratingwounds’,twenty-twoinjuries;partofhisface,skullandmostofhisbrainhadbeencompletelydestroyed,andhisbadlymutilatedupperbodypepperedwithpellets.TheCBI,saysK.Ragothaman,oneofitsofficerssecondedtoKaarthikeyan’s

SIT,hadmeanwhilesentthemutilatedbodypartsofthehithertounidentifiedwomanfoundattheblastsiteforaDNAtesttotheCentreforCellularandMolecularBiologyinHyderabad.Herfacewasstillrecognizable,Ragothaman

says.‘Icanrecallitlikeitwasyesterday.Shewastheonlyoneamongthepeoplewhodiedintheblastthatnightwhosebodyhadbeensocompletelydismembered.’‘Herheadhadbeenseveredfromherbodyandwaslyingatadistanceof12

metres;herupperbodycleavedintwo,wasinshreds,herrightarmblownoff,herleftarmlyingfurtherawayandbothherlegswereinseparatepieces,’hesaid.LikeRajivGandhi’sbody,andthoseofalltheothervictims,herstoo,borestrikinglysimilarpelletmarksandburns.(TheTNFSLchief,infact,waspulledupbytheSITintheirfinalreportfor

orderinghospitalstafftoreattachtheassassin’sdecapitatedheadtoherbody.)TheforensicsteamsfromtheCentralForensicScienceLaboratory,the

TNFSLandexplosivesexpertsfromtheNationalSecurityGuard(NSG)whosweptthesceneon23Mayandgatheredthefirstpiecesofmaterialevidencefoundthathundredsofmetallicpelletslaylitteredatthespot.Amongthedebrisofhumanbodypartslaywires,twotoggleswitchesandoverwhelmingevidenceoftheexplosiveRDX.ThewomanwhosebodywasfoundclosesttoRajivGandhi’shadbeen

wearinganundergarmentthatwaspartvest,partbelt.Expertspiecingittogetherfromtheblood-soakedshredsdiscoveredontheburnt-outredcarpet,foundthatitwasmadeofbluedenimontheoutsideandontheinside.IthadelectricwiresrunningthroughinsulationsleevesconcealedintheinnerlayertosupportaslabofRDXthatprobablyweighedhalfakiloandwasembeddedwith10,000pellets.ThiswasintegraltotheingeniouslyconstructedImprovisedExplosiveDevice(IED)thatthehumanbombwasstrappedto.Theteamofexpertsfoundthatelectricdetonatorspluggedintotheslabwere

connectedtoa9-voltGoldenPowerbatterythroughtwoswitches—onetoarmthedevice,theothertosetitoff.‘Ondetonation,apartfromthesound,fireandblasteffect,thethousandsof

pelletswouldbecomeprojectilesorshrapneltravellingatfuriousspeed,destroyingeverythingintheirimmediatepath,’saysKaarthikeyaninhiscompellingbookco-writtenwiththelateCBIofficerDeputyInspectorGeneralRadhavinodRaju.RajivGandhididn’tstandachance.Nobodywithin10feetofthefirsthuman

bombonIndiansoildid.Thoseofusontheperipheryonlysurvivedbecauseof

thedensecrowdaroundtheCongressleader,whichborethebruntoftheblast.TwothingshappenedinquicksuccessionafterTheHindupublishedthe

pictureofthehumanbomb.One,Kaarthikeyan’sinvestigativeteamwhichwasabletoconnectthedots

withincredibleprecision,filingtheirchargesheetwithintheyear,accessedapolicewoman,theeyewitnessSub-InspectorAnasuyawhohadsurvivedtheblastthathadburntpartofherfaceandblownoffthreefingers.Whenshownthephotographs,sheconfirmedthatshehadseenboththebespectacledwomanandthemaninthewhitekurta,aswellastheyoungphotographer,whohadbeenhangingaround,standingbytheredcarpetjustbeforeRajivGandhi’sarrival.Secondly,afterTheHindupublishedthepictureofthedeadphotographer,

fromwhosecamerathetell-allimageshadbeenretrieved,hewasidentifiedasHaribabubyajournalistwhoknewhim.Thejournalistalsomadeaveryinterestingrevelation.HetoldKaarthikeyan’steamthatHaribabuhadintroducedthemaninthekurta-pyjamatohimasthebusinesspartnerofanotherphotojournalisttheybothknew.Hissuspicionsaroused,thejournalistcalledthephotojournalistthenextdayto

verifythestory.WhilethelatterfreelyadmittedthathehadletHaribabuborrowhisChinoncamera,hecategoricallydeniedknowingthekurta-cladmaninthepicture,whoHaribabuhadclaimedwashis(thephotojournalist’s)businesspartner.ThejournalistalertedtheSIT.Critically,Mr‘WhiteKurta’wasnotfoundamongthedeadortheinjured.He

wasstillatlarge.TheSITwasn’tsureifhewasacquaintedwiththewomanstandingnexttohim,orwhethertheybothwerepartoftheteamofassassins.TheidentificationofHaribabuledtoanotherleadthat,forthefirsttime,

reinforcedKaarthikeyan’sownsuspicionsabouttheinvolvementoftheLTTEterrorgroup.Kaarthikeyan’steamdiscoveredthatHaribabuworkedcloselywithanotherphotographer,SubhaSundaram,whohadpro-LTTEleaningsandhadfamouslyplayedhosttotheMadras-basedTigeroperative‘Baby’SubramaniamandmanyotherLTTEsympathizersathisStudioShubha.That’swhenthefingerofsuspicionfirstpointedtotheTigers,who,untilthen,

hadonlybeentagged—ashadtheKhalistanSikhs,theUnitedLiberationFrontofAsom(ULFA)andKashmiriextremists—asoneofthemanygroupsthathadanaxetogrindagainstRajivGandhiandhisfamily.

Atthispoint,theSITconcludedthatHaribabu,anLTTEsympathizer,hadbeencontractedtofilmtheassassination—theLTTEwasknowntorecordeverything—andpossiblyhadstoodtooclosetothefemalebomberanddiedaccidentallyintheblast.TheIBcametomuchthesameconclusionafteranexhaustivereviewofthe

historyofbombblastsinTamilNaduperpetratedbytheLTTEandotherSriLankanTamilmilitantsinthesouthernstatewhentheDMKgovernmenthadbeeninpowerbuthadlookedtheotherway,givingtheTigersafreerun.TheIBruledouttheSikhs,giventhelogisticsinvolved—organizingahitfromtheirareaofoperationsinthenorthwouldhavebeenimpossible.TheResearchandAnalysisWing(RAW)hadamuchhardertimearrivingat

thesameconclusion,giventheirlongassociationwiththemilitantsandthe‘moles’theycultivatedwithintheTigerrankswhoplayedbothsideswithease.TheLondon-basedColKittu(realnameSathasivanKrishnakumar),forinstance,wasoneofthepeopleonRAW’srolls,asmaverickpoliticianSubramanianSwamysaysinhisbook,TheAssassinationofRajivGandhi.2

Soonaftertheassassination,KaarthikeyanandCBIchiefVijayKaranleftforColomboon30Mayinabidtoseeifthekurta-cladmaninthephotoandthewomanbombercouldbeidentifiedbyLankanTamilgroupsinimicaltotheLTTE.Atthesametime,SITsleuthsbeganscrutinizingthevariousassassinationsinMadrasthathadtheLTTE’simprimatur.Ofmajorinterestwasthe19June1990deathsquad,andthemethodsand

weaponrytheyhadusedtosavageandkilltheEelamPeople’sRevolutionaryLiberationFront(EPRLF)leaderK.Padmanabhaandthirteenotherswithhimathisoffice-cum-residenceinZachariaColonyinKodambakkam,Madras.ThekillershadusedgrenadesandAK-47s,andnotabelt-bomb.Nevertheless,SITsleuthssawhowthesolidwoodendooroftheapartmenthadbeenblastedopenwithgrenades,andhowthemetallicpelletsthatwereembeddedinitreplicatedtheonesfoundintheassassin’sbelt-bomb.OneofthegrenadesusedintheEPRLFattack,whichhadnotexploded,had

bothRDXandTNT,andcontained2800pellets.TheSITwasbriefedthatthe

grenade,whichborethestamp‘SFG-87’thatstoodforSingaporeFragmentationGrenade-87,hadbeenmanufacturedbyCharteredIndustriesofSingapore.Thesimilaritieswerestriking,butdespitetheirefforts,IndianintelligencehadbeenunabletoidentifyPadmanabha’skillers.Theyhadthenames—DavidorRobertandRaghuvaran—butwithnopicturesandnoidentikit,itwasimpossiblefortheSITtolinkthetwokillingsorpinitontheLTTE.On30May,therewasanothertip-offfromaresidentofVillivakamcolonyin

Madras.Hesaidherecognizedthewomaninthegreensalwar-kameez.Hehadseenherwhenshevisitedhisnewneighbour,awomancalledNalini,alongwithanotherwomanandaman,whohadbeenintroducedtohimasDas.HeknewNaliniwasemployedinanofficeinAdyarbuthadnotseenheroflate.InthefirstweekofJune,theSIThitamotherlodewhenitunearthedaboxful

ofpapers,lettersandbillswhilesearchingHaribabu’shomeinaMadrasslum.ThedocumentsshowedtheextentofHaribabu’sinvolvementwiththeseparatists.Haribabu’sfathergavetheSITmoreboxes,oneofwhichcontainedbillsforthesandalwoodgarlandthatthebomberwasholdingwhensheapproachedRajivGandhi.OtherboxesrevealedachitthathadNalini’sandDas’snamesonit,atelephonenumberand3000copiesofanLTTE-compiledbookcalledSatanicForces,whichwasacollectionofarticlesandopinionpiecesthatrainedhateontheIndianPeaceKeepingForce(IPKF)andIndia’sSriLankapolicy.AsSITinvestigatorK.RagothamanandauthorofConspiracytoKillRajivGandhifromCBIFiles3recounts,thebookwasaneye-opener—theLTTE’sloathingforRajivGandhiwasitsonerecurring,chillingleitmotif.Thefinaltip-offthatwouldblowthelidofftheLTTEconspiracycamewhen

thephotojournalistwithwhomHaribabuworkedgavetheSITthenameoftheprinterwhohadprintedallthepro-LTTEmaterial—Bhagyanathan.Inhim,theyfoundtheonesourcewhowoulduncovertheelaborateLTTEnetworkofdrivers,smugglers,supportersandspiesthatoperatedrightundertheirnosesacrossthestate.Apprehendedandbroughtinforquestioning,thetwenty-five-year-old

BhagyanathanwasbeinginterrogatedattheSITheadquarters,whenafemalewitnesswhohadcomeforwardandwhohadbeenpresentattherallythatnight,confirmedthatthetwowomeninHaribabu’spictureshadbeenwithHaribabu,

themaninthekurta-pyjamaandthehumanbomber,atthevenue.Shedidn’tknowtheirnamesorantecedentsbutsaidtheywerealltogetherasoneteam.Whatfollowedinquicksuccessioncanonlybedescribedasaseriesof

fortuitouscoincidences.OneofthesleuthsinterrogatingBhagyanathanatMalligai,thebuildingfrom

whichtheSITwasoperatinginMadras,wasaskedtocomeandseethepicturesthatthewitnesswasbeingshown,onlyforhimtorealizethathewaslookingatBhagyanathan’ssisterNalini,whomhehadseenintheprinter’shomebutnotapproachedashehadhadnocausetoatthetime.Becauseofthechitofpaperbearinghernamethathadbeenfoundin

Haribabu’sbox—whichtheSIThadwidelypublicized—Nalinihadalreadybeenquestionedbyheremployer.Thereafter,shehadvanished.Heremployersaidsheresignedon9June.Nalini’scomplicityintheRajivGandhiassassinationwasneverindoubtfor

theSITinvestigators.AccordingtoBhagyanathan,he,aswellashismother,Padma,whowasanurse,andhissister,Nalini,hadtakenundertheirwingtwowomenwhohadbeenbroughtfromJaffnaandentrustedtotheircarebyamantheyonlyknewasRaghuAnna.Nalinievenhelpedthesuicidebomberpickoutandbuytheoversizedsalwar-kameezonthemorningof21May.ItwaswhiletheyoungwomanwasgettingreadythatherLTTEfemalecompanionconfirmedtoNalinithatthemantheyintendedtoassassinatethatnightwasRajivGandhi—andnotAnnamalaiVaradarajaPerumal,thefirstchiefministerofSriLanka’sNorth-EasternProvinceandleaderoftheEPRLFaseveryonehadthought—andreportedlyaskedhertojointhemandwatchhistorybeingmade.Nalini,aufaitwiththeplantoeliminatethepopularIndianleader,hadalready

participatedinadryrunwiththegangofwould-beassassinson7May1991duringV.P.Singh’selectionrallyinMadras.Shehadnoqualmsaboutgoingalongtothe‘real’thing.Nolongeraninnocentbystander,moresoasshehadgrownclosetoDas,shehadattendedofficethedayaftertheassassinationasthoughnothinghadhappened,anddidsoeverydayuntilherbossconfrontedheron9June.Afterthat,sheneverwentback.By4June,KaarthikeyanandhisteamhadreturnedfromColombo—

summonedbackbytheRAWchief—withalistofthewho’swhoofthevastLTTEnetworkinTamilNaduthatwasavirtualstatewithinastate.

Indeed,inJanuary1991,afterthefallofthepro-LTTEDMKgovernment,acrackdownonLTTEoperativesandtheirsupportershadbeenwronglysurmisedassuccessful.ItwasonlywhentheSITgainedaccesstothelistofSriLankanTamilswho

hadlegallyregisteredasforeignresidents—whilesimultaneouslytrackingalltheillegals,unearthingarmscaches,wirelesssetsandhugeamountsofcash—thattheextentofthelinkbetweenthemainlandandthenorthernpartsoftheisland,andthesupporttheyenjoyed,becameclear.Critically,KaarthikeyanhadreturnedfromColombowiththeall-important

nameofthekurta-cladman.Hewasknownbyastringofaliases—SivarajaMaster,akaSivaresan,realnamePakiachandran,nicknamePakiorKannadianna(meaningbespectacledolderbrotherinTamil)andRaghuAnna.Theone-eyedLTTEoperativewasfromUdippidy,Jaffna,withlinkstoBatticaloaintheeast.Corroborationofhisnamecamefromtheunlikeliestofsources.Justaday

beforetheSITchief’sreturn,asmugglercaughtdoingtheSriLankanrunfromthecoastalvillageofThiruthuraipoonditoJaffnahadindependentlyidentifiedthekurta-cladmanastheone-eyedLTTEoperative,Sivaresan.Inanothermajorstrokeofluck,TamilNaduPolicestoppedayoungSri

LankanTamilspeedingdownaroadnearVedaranyamonamotorcycle.WhentheSITgainedaccesstohim,theman,Shankar,turnedouttobepartofthenine-memberassassinationsquadunderthecommandofSivaresan,whohadlandedinthecoastalvillageofKodiakkarai,Nagapattinam,fromJaffnaon1May1991,alongwiththetwowomen.ThiswaslatercorroboratedbyShanmugham,anIndiansmugglerfrom

Kodiakkarai,whomtheSITnabbedbasedontheinformationthatShankarprovided.ShanmughamturnedouttobeoneoftheLTTE’skeypointmenonthecoast,

thebigfishwholedthemtotheTigers’secretstashofpapers,photographs,videos,cyanidecapsules,walkie-talkiesandotherequipment,aswellasgoldbars,cashandhugecachesofgunsandweapons.AsRagothamansays,‘Wecollectedthousandsofphotographsandvideosof

theLTTEtraining,oneofwhichwouldfinallyhelpushomeinontheidentityofthehumanbomberandherhandler.’

MuchtotheembarrassmentoftheSIT,however,Shanmughamcommittedsuicideontheirwatch.Withthebenefitofhindsight,saysKaarthikeyan,leavingthesmugglerinthecompanyofhisownuncleandinapolicestationthatwasclosetohisownhomeandthatofhisrelatives—andhismistress—wasapoormove.‘Wedon’tknowwhattranspiredbetweenShanmughamandhisuncle,butitledhimtotrytoescape,andwhenhereceivednohelpfromhisrelativesandtheneighbours,hecommittedsuicide,’theveteraninvestigatorsaid.ShanmughamhadbeenworkingcloselywiththeLTTEfromKodiakkarai

since1984,smugglinginpeopleandarmsunderthecoverofdarkness.HehadbroughtintheLTTEhitteamthatbumpedoffPadmanabhain1990,andensuredtheirreturntoJaffnaoncethejobwasdone.Sivaresanwastheheadofthatteam.Shankar,theLTTEoperative,toldtheSITaboutthenine-memberhitsquad

thatShanmughampersonallyreceivedatKodiakkaraion1May.ItincludedSivaresan,aswellasaone-leggedmanbroughtfortreatmentatoneofthethreehospitalsinthestatethatfittedwoundedTigerswiththeJaipurlegonthequietandwhowasbelievedtobethewirelessoperatoroftheTigers’intelchief.AlsoonthatboatwasSivaresan’sright-handman,Suthenthiraja;hisownwirelessoperator,Nehru;twoyoungwomenandthreeothers,includingShankar.TheinterrogationofShankarnotonlyliftedtheveilonthesecretcommand

structureoftheTigersinthestate,italsoledthemtothevarioussafehousesandhideoutswheretrainedSriLankanTamilassassinstookshelteratthecash-richSivaresan’sbehest,leavingtheSITchiefmarvellingatthelegionsofsympathizerstheLTTEcouldactivate,particularlyfromtheopenlypro-LTTEcadresoftheDravidaKazhagam.Mostimportantly,whenhewascaught,Shankarwascarryingtheoffice

telephonenumberofNalini—who,aswirelessinterceptstrackedbyIndiansleuthsrevealed,wasreferredtoas‘OfficeGirl’—andacontactnumberforRobertPayas,thelocalLTTEintelligenceoperativewhoworkedwiththehitsquadduringtheoperation.PayashadsentoffthemessagethattheassassinationofRajivGandhi,codenamedOperationWedding,hadbeenasuccess.Bhagyanathan,whenconfrontedwithallofthis,sanglikeacanary.Hegave

theSITthefullstory,confirmingSivaresan’sidentityandthathisrealnamewasRaghuvaranorRaghuAnna.Healsorevealedthattheone-eyedLTTEoperativewasthesamemanwhohadplannedandexecutedPadmanabha’smurder,which

wonhimtheunstintingpraiseandadmirationoftheoutfit’schief,VellupillaiPrabhakaran,andresultedinhisbeingentrustedwiththeoneroustaskofeliminatingRajivGandhi.Bhagyanathan,youngandimpressionable,befriendedbytheLTTE’sprinterof

propaganda,‘Baby’Subramanian,andanotherLTTEcommunicationsexpert,Muthurajah,hadquicklybecomepartoftheinnercircle.Butwhenquestioned,hehadlittlehesitationinnamingthesuicidebomberasDhanu,herfemalecompanionasSubha,thepossiblestandbybomberaboutwhomverylittleisknown,andthepersonwhowasseeninNalini’scompanyasMuruganaliasSriharanaliasDasorInduMaster,whowasSivaresan’sall-importantSriLankanTamilassistantandtheexplosivesexpertwhohelpedbuildthebelt-bomb.TheSITfinallyhadthewho’swhoofRajivGandhi’sassassins.BhagyanathanalsonamedseveralotherIndianTamilsinthralltotheLTTE,

includingArivu,realnamePerarivalan,whowouldhelpSivaresanbuythebatteriesthatwouldpowerthebelt-bombthatheandMuruganwouldconstruct,aswellasascooterandthewirelesswhichSivaresanusedtocommunicatedirectlywithPottuAmman,theLTTEintelligencechief.Threeweeksintotheinvestigation,thetrailtoNaliniandMuruganhadgone

cold.But,unfazed,on11June1991,lessthanamonthaftertheassassination,theSITmadeitsfirstformalarrests,detainingBhagyanathanandhismother,Padma.Therewasnosignof‘One-eyedJack’or,forthatmatter,theotherwomancaughtoncamera,Subha.ButtheSIThopedtheywereclosingin.TrackingdownoneLTTEoperativeafteranotherwhohadbeensentbyPottuAmmanontheboatwithSivaresansawallroadsleadbacktothemastermind.Hewasthespiderintheweb.ThisiswhentheSITstumbleduponanotherLTTEplottoassassinateaman

whomtheoutfithadlongseenasanIndiancollaborator.WhileputtingthefinaltouchestotheplantoeliminatetheformerIndianprimeminister,SivaresanwassimultaneouslytryingtobringdownVaradarajaPerumal,whohadbeeninstalledinofficemuchtoPrabhakaran’schagrinwhentheIPKFhadtheLTTEwithitsbacktothewall.SivaresandespatchedanoperativetoGwalior,wheretheEPRLFleaderhad

takenrefugeaftertheIPKF’sretreatandRajivGandhi’selectoraldefeatinNovember1989.ButwithRajivGandhi’sassassinationandthemoodagainstSri

LankanTamilsturninguglyacrossthecountry,theLTTEoperativehesenttoGwaliorhot-footeditbacktoTamilNadu,hopingtomeldin,onlytobenabbedbythelocalpoliceinThanjavur.VaradarajaPerumal,theonemanwhomSivaresan—andPrabhakaranandPottuAmman—failedtoeliminate.Andthen,inthelastweekofJune,theSITwouldstrikegold.While

interrogatinganLTTEoperative,theSITwastoldaboutthearrivalinthelastweekofApril1991ofanoldmannamedSabapathyPillaiakaKanakasabapathyMuthiahSivaguranathan,whomSivaresanwantedtoensconceinaDelhihouseinMotiBaghaspartofhisplantoattempttoassassinateRajivGandhiinthecapital,NewDelhi.TheDelhihouserented,Sabapathy,fatherofaslainLTTEcommanderofJaffna,returnedtothesouthtopickuphis‘daughter-in-law’Athirai.Oddly,despitetheassassinationofRajivGandhi,Sabapathyandthegirlwere

bookedonatrainbacktoDelhion1July.TheSIT,undertheimpressionthatthegirlcouldbeSubha,pulledoutallthestops,arrestingherandSabapathyfromasmallhotelinDelhi.She,however,wasn’tSubha.But,asRagothamansays,itwaswiththearrest

ofAthiraithattheSITinvestigatorswerefinallyabletotieupallthelooseends.AthiraiwasPottuAmman’sPlanB.Shewasthealternatesuicidebombersent

toassassinateRajivGandhiinDelhiifSivaresan’splanfailedinMadras.Afterherarrest,Athirai,whoserealnamewasChandralekhabutcalledherselfGowriorSonia,wouldlayouttheplottoassassinateRajivGandhiinthegreatestofdetailtotheSIT.AlltheSITneedednowweretheactualassassins—Sivaresan,Subha,Nalini

andMurugan.

TheHuntforSivaresan

MinutesafterDhanublewherselfup—aftergivinghermentorSivaresanfairwarning—Nalini,SubhaandSivaresanrushedtotheIndiraGandhistatuejustbeyondthegroundsandcaughtanautorickshawintothecity.TheywereheadingtooneofthemanyhomesthatLTTEsympathizershadlentthemin

Kodungaiyur,providedtothembyanIndianTamilwhowasmarriedtoaLankanTamilandhadworkedwiththeLTTEinvariouscapacities.Thenextday,thegroupleftforTirupati,onlyreturningtoMadrason26May.Bythen,withthephotographsofDhanu,Sivaresanand,later,Nalini

publishedinthenewspapers,theSITbegantogetalertsfromacrossthestatethatclaimedtheyhadbeenspotted.Sivaresankeptalowprofile,rarelyventuringoutandputtinguppostersthatwerepro-Congressandpro-AIADMKtocoverhistracks.Mostoftheleadsweredeadends.ButinthecaseofNaliniandMurugan,the

couple’sluckranoutwhentheyreturnedfromMaduraitoMadrasandgotspottedatthebusstandinSaidapet.Theywereformallyarrestedon14June.NaliniwaspregnantwithMurugan’schild.Kaarthikeyan,whointerrogatedthemhimself,sayshewasstruckbyherfiery,

unrepentantdefiance,hercommitmenttotheLTTE,herstrongconvictionthattheTigershadbeenwronged,andherlovefortheyoungermaninherlife,whowasthefatherofherunbornchild.Nalini,likeherbrother,Bhagyanathan,hadnohesitationinowninguptotheassassination,Kaarthikeyansaid,althoughwhatherlawyerssaidincourtwouldbeanentirelydifferentstory.Morearrestsquicklyfollowed.Thenexttobenabbedwasthehardcore

DravidaKazhagamactivistandLTTEsympathizerArivuakaPerarivalan—whohelpedputtogetherthebelt-bombalongsideMurugan—andPayas,who,alongwithhisbrother-in-lawJayakumar,weretheLTTE’ssecretintelligenceoperativesinMadras.Sivaresanwashidinginplainsight,inEvereadyColonyinKodungaiyur,

usingthehomeofanLTTEsympathizer,Vijayan,tosendoutshortburstsfromawirelessstationthathehadsetup,whichtheSITwasunabletotrackdespitetheirbestefforts.Arogueradiostation,onlyastone’sthrowfromtheSIT’sheadquarters.ButnabbingSuthenthiraja,Sivaresan’smosttrustedassistant,afterAthirai

tippedthemoffonhishideout—hewasdraggedfromhisbedbeforehecouldswallowhiscyanidepill—wastoproveoneoftheSIT’sbiggestcoupsand,certainly,Sivaresan’sundoing.NotonlycouldSivaresannolongerbankonthiskeyoperativewhooutedtheirKodungaiyursafehouse,forcinghimandSubhatoflee,theyoungmanwouldtelltheSITeverylastdetail,conclusively

implicatingSivaresanandtheLTTEinRajivGandhi’skilling,andhelpingthemprovethelinkwiththe1990killingoftheEPRLF’sPadmanabha.SuthenthirajaakaSanthanwasaneighbourofSivaresan’sfromhisvillagein

Udippidy,andhadknownhisbossasthesonofanEnglishteacher,ChandrashekharanPillaiofVeerabhadraKoiladdy.SuthenthirajawasaclassmateofSivaresan’syoungerbrother,Ravichandran,whoheadedtheStudentsOrganizationoftheLiberationTigers,andwhoprobablydiedwhenhewastakenintocustodybytheIPKF.Sivaresan,onceanemployeeoftheelectricityboardinBatticaloa,losthiseyeinMay1987inaclashwiththeSriLankansecurityforcesand,somesay,mayevenhavebeenflownbytheIPKFintoTamilNadufortreatment.Thatdidn’tchangehisloyaltyto‘Thalapati’,LTTEchiefPrabhakaran,who

pickedhimforthreecrucialhits—Padmanabha,VaradarajaPerumalandRajivGandhi.Suthenthirajahadbeenhand-pickedandplantedinMadrasbySivaresanin

February1990,tobefriendandinfiltratetheEPRLF’sinnercircle.Itwasthefriendlyyoungman’sspecifictip-offonagatheringoftheEPRLF’stopleadershiptoSivaresan,givinghimtheexacttimeandplaceofthemeeting,thatledtothebloodyattackontheLankanTamilgroupthatSuthenthirajaparticipatedin.ThepoliticsofrevengethatcharacterizedtheLTTE’sbrandofsettling

politicalscores,hadbeenimportedintoIndia.Basedonthemasterlist,courtesyasuspiciouslyco-operativeColombounder

thenPresidentRanasinghePremadasa,membersofSivaresan’sinnercirclewerebeingtrackeddownandnabbed,onebyone.ButthewilyOne-eyedJack,Sivaresan,wasalwaysonestepaheadoftheSIT,provingtobefarmoreelusivethantheyhadanticipated.

UnleashingtheKarampuli

Dhanu,thehumansuicidebomber,fascinatedthesleuths.Thiswasclearlynotherrealname,andthemotivationanddedicationthatledhertotakethispath

couldonlyhavecomefromsustainedfanningofanti-IndiahatredfromtheLTTE’ssavvypropagandistssuchasYogiandPrabhakaranhimself.Amongthephotographs,videosandcassettesthatwereseizedbytheSIT

fromPerarivalanandBhagyanathanintheirhuntforevidencetotietheLTTEtotheassassination,wasaclip,oneofmanythatatopLTTEoperativehadbroughtinfromJaffna.ItshowedfemaleLTTEcadressomewhereinthenorthoftheislandnationmarchingtothetuneofamartialband.TotheSIT,theflag-bearerattheheadofthegroupborearemarkableresemblancetoDhanu.InAugust1991,TheHindu’sFrontlinemagazineranastorythatcorroborated

theSIT’sconclusionsonDhanu’santecedentsasachildofthecauseforTamilEelam.ItsaidshewasthedaughterofRajaratnam,aSriLankanTamilnationalistwhohadinspiredPrabhakaranwhentheformersignedonasoneoftheearliestmembersoftheIlankaiThamilArasuKatchi,andthePuliPadai,theTigerArmy.InJuneofthatyear,onlydaysaftertheassassination,andinadeparturefrom

normalpractice,PrabhakaranhonouredhisheroRajaratnamandothers,includingtheTamilNadu-basedKasiAnandan,inaspecialceremony,eventhoughtheformerhadbeendeadforsixteenlongyears,whileinexileinMadras.WasthisadisguisedtributetoDhanu?TheonlywaythatPrabhakarancouldsaythankyou,perhaps?TheLTTEquicklygotintotheact,usingaresidentofUrumpiraiinJaffnato

putoutanelaboratedenialofDhanu’sparentage.AnyconfirmationthatshewasaservingmemberoftheLTTEwouldexposetheirroleintheassassination—andtheydidnotwantthatmadepublic.Afterall,thiswasaterrorgroupthatdreamedofaGreaterEelamandbeingknownasthekillersofRajivGandhi,whowasadoredbyTamilians,wouldmeanlosingsupportinTamilNadu.ClaimingthatDhanuhadnolinktotheRajaratnamfamily,theUrumpirai

residentaddedthatRajaratnam’ssecondwifeandtheirseconddaughter,Anuja,wereinfactinmourning,astheyoungestdaughter,KalaivaniakaCapt.Akino,haddiedinbattle,whileAnujaherselfwasrecoveringfrominjuriesinanotherskirmishwiththeSriLankanarmy.Rajaratnam’seldestdaughter,Vasugi,andason,Sivavarman,fromhisfirstmarriage,themansaid,livedinCanada.Despitethelie,SIT’sskilfulskullsuperimpositionconclusivelyprovedthat

DhanuwasthesamegirlastheonenamedCapt.Akino,codenamedAnbu,who

washeadingthemarch.ThiswouldmakeherRajaratnam’sdaughter—realnameKalaivaniaka

GayatriakaThenmozhiRajaratnam,residentofKaithadi,Nunavil,Chavakacheri,bornon26July1968,purportedlydied8September1991,accordingtotheLTTE’sdiaryofheroes,MaaverarKuripedu.TheinterpolationofDhanu’srealnameintothelistofthe243youngwomen

whodiedinbattleinSeptember1991wasn’ttoodifficult,theSITinvestigatorsconcluded.GiventhesustainedpropagandaagainsttheIPKF,theprevailingviewamong

theSriLankanTamilswasthatDhanuhadbeenwillingtogiveupherlifetoavengethemanyallegedrapesandviolationsofLankanTamilwomenbytheIndiansoldiers,including,allegedly,acloserelativeand,somesay,evenherself.NorwegianpeacenegotiatorslikeErikSolheimsay,‘Shemayhavebeen

barelysixteenatthetimetheIPKFweredeployedinJaffna,andtheprevailingstory,everytimethesubjectwasbroughtupwasthateithersheoramemberofherfamilyhadbeenraped.And,thatthiswaspayback.’Thebombitselfwasputtogetherpiecebypiece,withthe9-voltbatteriesand

thevariousswitches,togglesandwires,andthe0.2-mmdiametermetallicballsandpellets.ThesewereboughtbyKumaranPathmanathanor‘KP’,chiefarmsprocurerfortheLTTE,fromarmsmerchantsacrosstheworld,andputtogetherlocallybyPerarivalan,theIndianLTTEsympathizer,alongwithMurugan.TheactualIEDandthepelletsandgrenadeswereprobablybroughtinthroughtheworldwidenetworkofsmugglersthatKPoversaw,whohadeasyaccesstoIndia’scoastline.ThedeputyheadoftheBlackTigresses,Akila,haddescribedDhanu—barely

twenty-threewhensheblewherselftobits—asa‘childoffire’,aveiledreferencetothehumanbomb.ButwhatisreallyinterestingisthattheSIT’sremarkableinformation

gatherersgive‘credit’forthehuman-bombconcept,nottoPrabhakaranaseveryoneelseuniversallydid—anddoes—buttothedeputyheadoftheKarampuli,theBlackTigress,Akila,whocameupwiththeideaofstrappinganIEDonaperson’sbodytogainaccesstothetarget—inthiscase,RajivGandhi—longbeforeitwasadoptedbytheTalibanandtheIslamistsintheArabworldastheirweaponofchoice.

LtCol.Akila,whowoulddieinbattleinOctober1995,wastheSIT’sAccusedNo.3.OnlyPrabhakaranandPottuAmman,beingAccusedNo.1andAccusedNo.2respectively,werehigheronthelist.

WhentheWallsCloseIn

AsthephotographsoftheassassinsofRajivGandhiweresplashedacrossthecityofMadrasandTamilNaduandtheneighbouringstatesthroughearlyJune,Sivaresan,forcedtogointohiding,continuedtousehissecretwirelessradiotocommunicatewithLTTEintelligencechiefPottuAmmaninJaffna,updatinghimonthearrestsofmembersofthehitsquadandvariousLTTEsupporters,pushingallthewhileforasafepassagehomeforhimselfandthefallbacksuicidebomber,Subha.Whenarewardwasannouncedforanyonewhohadinformationaboutthem—

Rs10lakhforSivaresanandRs5lakhforSubha—theSITwasbesiegedwithtip-offs.ButPottuAmmanhadnointentionoflettingthesetwokeyoperativesfallinto

thehandsoftheSITand,inmessageaftermessage,askedthemtolielowandensuretheyhadtheircyanidepillswiththematalltimes,asignalthattheymustevadecaptureatanycost.WithPresident’sruleinplaceinTamilNaduposttheassassination,anda

heightenedsecurityalert,theLTTE’ssmugglingofarmsandpeoplebetweenthecoastshadvirtuallyended.Everyboat,everysmuggler,everygun-runnerwasbeingwatchedandmonitored.Sivaresan’saccesstohisownTigernetworkinsideTamilNaduwasseverely

curtailedwhentheSITbeganpickingupbothLankanandIndianTamilLTTEsupportersacrossthestate.InDindigul,thepolicestumbleduponwhatwouldbetheLTTE’sfifthcolumn

insideTamilNadu,theso-calledTamilNationalRetrievalTroopsandtheTamizharPasarai,headedbyapro-LTTEIndianTamil,Ravichandran,whohadbeensendingTamilyouthstobetrainedinJaffna.HehadbeentaskedbytheLTTEsupremowithdestabilizingthesouthernstateonthelinesofJammuand

KashmiraspartofthequesttocreateaGreaterEelamthatspannedthePalkStrait.Prabhakaranbelieved—mistakenly—thatonceRajivGandhihadbeen

eliminated,theTamils,withtheactivesupportofthelocalIndianpoliticalparties,wouldriseuptofighttheIndianstatealongsidetheLTTEandthecountrywouldplungeintochaosanddisintegrate.PottuAmman,realizingthatthewallswereclosinginonhisman,activated

hiswell-entrenchedintelligencechiefinTamilNadu,TiruchySanthan,andhisaide,Irumborai,toarrangefortheescapeofthethreepeopleintheknowoftheassassination—Sivaresan,SubhaandthewirelessoperatornamedNehru—ratherthanletthemfallintothehandsofinvestigatorsandconclusivelyimplicatetheLTTE.ButtheboatsentbyPottuAmmansankbeforeitmadelandfall.SITsleuths,whorecallthehuntfortheassassins,recounthowSivaresan

simplydroppedoffthefaceoftheearthfornearlythreeweeks,eventhoughhewasnowrelyingexclusivelyontheLTTEintelligencenetworkrunbyTiruchySanthanthatRAWandIBoperativeshadalwayscloselytracked.Infact,itwasbeingtrackedevenmoreclosely,nowthattheyhadproofthat

thePrabhakaranprotégéwasbeingshepherdedfromonelocationtothenextbyTiruchySanthan’swirelessoperator,amannamedDixon,andtheLTTE’sintelligencegroupoperativenamedKanthan.InabidtorattletheLTTEandletthemknowtheywereontothem,eventhoughinrealitytheyhadnoideawhereSivaresanreallywas,theSITpublishedthetwomen’spictures.TheSITfinallyclosedinonDixonaftertwoofhisassociateswerecaughtand

oneofthem,Vicky,spilledthebeansaboutDixon’sCoimbatorelair.Itwasthecentre,theydiscovered,foraclandestineLTTE-managedfactorytomanufacturegrenadeshells.AstheSITclosedin,Dixontookhisownlifeon28Julyand,critically,destroyedthewirelesssetthatTiruchySanthanhadbeenusingtocontactPottuAmman.Bythen,KanthanhadescapedtoJaffna.Dixon’sassociateVickyalsotoldthemaboutthemanwhohadbeenentrusted

byTiruchySanthantotakecareofSivaresan—SureshMaster—andthetwocars,agreenMarutiandablueair-conditionedPremierPadmini,thatwerebeingusedbythegrouptogetaroundthestatefromonesafehousetoanother.

SometimeinlateJulyorearlyAugust,SureshMaster,workingwithhisLTTEcolleagueRangan,pulledoffSivaresanandSubha’sescapefromMadrasinamovethatwasnothingshortofmasterly.RanganapproachedaMetturtransporterandLTTEsympathizer,DhanasekharanakaRaja,togivethemanemptyoiltanker,intowhichhesmuggledSivaresan,SubhaandNehru,andescortedthem,throughthenightof2August(oneversionclaimsitcouldhavebeenasearlyas28July)throughtheneighbouringstateofKarnatakaandintoBangalore,withoutoncebeingstoppedorarousingthesuspicionofthepolice!Bangaloreiswhereeverythingthatcouldgowrong,did.Butitwouldbe

anothersixteendaysbeforetheSITwouldfinallytrackthemdowntotheirnewlair.SureshMasterhadmanaged,unknowntotheBangalorecitypoliceand

intelligenceofficials,toshelterandtreatdozensofhisinjuredcolleaguesfromtheLTTEintwosafehousesinthecity—oneinIndiranagar,theotherinDomlur.HehadusedaBangalore-basedlatheoperator,Ranganath,tofindthesesafehouses,includingoneforSivaresanandSubha,withouttellinghimwhoitwasfor.Ranganathfirsttookthegrouptohisownhome,ahouseinPuttenahallithathehadrentedforhimselffromaCongresspartyman,Anjaneya.Inthechargedatmosphere,theSITwaspickinguponeLTTEoperativeafter

another,eachoneamineofinformation,liftingthelidofftheincrediblenetworkofsupportthattheTigershadsetupovertheyears.ButRanganathwasanewadditiontotheranks,andhismovementsandmodusoperandiwerethereforethatmuchmoredifficulttotrack,aseniorpoliceofficialtoldme.Vicky’srevelationswouldfinallyleadtoSivaresan.Histip-offonasafehouse

inTippasandra,Indiranagar,thatwasusedbyTiruchySanthan,wasexpectedtoyieldSivaresan.Instead,whenthepolicestormedthisLTTEhideouton5August,theyfoundtwoinjuredLTTEboys,bothofwhombitintotheircyanidecapsules.Onediedinstantly;theother,threedayslater.TheSITthentappedaBangalore-basedLTTEsympathizernamed

Jagannathan,whosquealedaboutthehandfulofotherhideoutsinthecity—eachonearevelationtothepolice—whichledthemtoasingle-storeyedhouseonaquietsidestreetinDomlur,whichabutsIndiranagar.WhentheSITandtheBlackCatsraidedtheDomlurhouse—nowon14th

Main,HALsecondstage—afterlocalscaughtandthrashedoneoftheLTTE

injured,mistakinghimforathiefashewascominghome,theyrealizedhowclosetheyhadbeentonabbingRajivGandhi’sassassins.Sivaresan,SubhaandNehru,theseniorpoliceofficialdiscovered,‘hadbeenattheDomlurhouseovernightandmusthavebeentherewhenwestormedtheotherIndiranagarhideoutinTippasandra’.Infact,whentheLTTEhitsquadcametotheirfirsthideout,waitingtoreceive

themwastheburlyTiruchySanthanhimself!(Inabotchedattempt,theSITwasunabletonabTiruchySanthanalive.HewasrunningoutofplacestohidewhentheyfinallycorneredhimseveralmonthslaterinNovember1991inanLTTEsmuggler’shouseinTiruchy,whereheconsumedcyanideanddied.)UncomfortableanduneasyaboutPuttenahalli,wheretheystoodoutfromthe

localKannadigas,SivaresanhadmovedtoDomlur,evenasRanganathfoundahouseinMuthatiandanotherinBirootainMandyadistrictfortheotherinjuredcadresunderSureshMaster’scare.ThenewhideoutforthenervousandedgySivaresanwasasingle-storeyedhouseinKonanakunte,some20kilometresaway,ontheoutskirtsofthecity.Ranganath,whohadhadboththecarsre-paintedandtheirnumberplates

changed,wasgivenlittlechoicebuttomovetoKonanakuntewiththegroup,giventhathenowknewtheywereallcomplicitinRajivGandhi’sassassination.Hewasnowaco-conspirator.Ranganath’swife,Mridula,uneasy,angryandafraidaftershediscoveredthe

identitiesofherhusband’snewfriends,accompaniedthemwhentheymovedtotheremotecolonyontheoutskirtsofBangaloreon16August.SureshMasterwastakingnochances,eventhoughRanganathhadgrownsympathetictotheTigercauseandwasnolongerdoingitjustforthemoney.MovingtoKonanakuntewasafatalerrorofjudgementfortheRajivGandhi

hitsquad.Corneredandhunted,movingfromonesafehousetoanother,deniedaseaborneescaperoute,andincompletelyunfamiliarterritory,Sivaresanprobablysensedthattheywererunningoutofoptions.FortheSITandthecitypolice,unschooledinstorminghideouts,capturing

SivaresanandtheothermembersofthehitsquadalivewouldproveachallengeunlesstheywerebackedupbytheBlackCatcommandos.Beforethathappened,theyhadtofindtheelusiveTiger.

TwothingswouldleadthepolicetoSivaresan’sdoorstepbeforetheSIT.One,Ranganath’scontactnumbersandhomeaddresswerecollectedbypolicewhentheywerecheckingtoseewhohadrentedtheMuthatiandBirootahouses.ItledthemtoaCongressworker,Anjaneya,asthemaincontactinPuttenahalli,whogaveRanganath’sofficeaddressasthelathefactoryinMandya,andhishomeaddressasPuttenahallialongsidetheShantiOliverchurch,whereRanganath’sbrother-in-lawwasapastor.Itwouldn’ttakelongforthecitypolicetotracehim.Two,thenewspapersthatRanganathbroughtbackwithhimtothehousewhenhewenttobuymilkthatmorninghadfront-pagedtheMuthatiraidandtheLTTEsuicides,deeplyupsettingbothSivaresanandSureshMaster,whoreportedlymutteredthattheywerebeingchasedandhuntedlikedogs.Itclearlythrewthemofftheirgame.ButthepersonmostrattledbythenewsthatRajivGandhi’sassassinswerein

thestate—andnowinherownhomeandbackyard—wasMridula.Claimingtobeillandsufferinganasthmaticattack,Mridulasimplyuppedandleft.Strangely,notoneofthehardcoreandwell-armedLTTEoperatives,neitherSureshMasternorSivaresan,asmuchasprotested.SheleftwithRanganath,butontheirwayhometoPuttenahalli,hegotoffanddecidedtoheadbacktoKonanakuntetohisnewfriends.ThedoughtyanddeeplypatrioticMridula,outragedbytheassassinationofRajivGandhi,knewshehadtodotherightthing.Shecalledthepoliceandblewthewhistleontheentireclandestineoperation,describingindetailtotheshocked,unsuspectingpolice,thesixteendaysshehadspentwithRajivGandhi’sassassins,andhowthemostwantedmeninIndiawerenowholedupinahouse,barely20kilometresoutsidethecity,poised,armedforacounter-attack.BangaloreCityPolicetookherawaytobedebriefed,butthenmadethe

monumentalerrorofsendinguniformedandarmedmentoKonanakunte.Theycompoundedthaterrorbysurroundingthesuspects’housewithpolicevehiclesthatwereclearlyvisiblefromthehideout.Ranganath,whohadspentthenightholedupina‘lodge’,returnedto

Puttenahalliearlyonthemorningof19Augusttocheckonhiswifeandwastoldthatshehadbeentakenawaybypolice.Panicking,hemadetracksforKonanakunte,arrivinginanautorickshaw.Itdidn’thelpmatterswhenhewasrecognizedbythelocalresidents,particularlythemilkvendor,whothrashedhim

soundlyforshelteringRajivGandhi’sassassinsandhandedhimovertothepolice.Bythistime,hundredsofcuriouslocalresidentshadgatheredaroundthe

Konanakuntehouse,ashadthecitypolice,whohadbeenledtherebywhistle-blowerMridula.ThisiswhereSivaresan,SubhaandNehru,alongwithSureshMasterandtwoothers,wouldmaketheirlaststand.TheSIT’sowndebriefingofMridulaonlyhappenedlateonSunday,18

August,afterthepolicecommissionerinformedthemofthetip-off.WithonlyafewBlackCatsoncallandtheNSGputonoperationalalert,the

SITknewthatbythetimetheygottothespot,theywouldhavelosttheall-too-importantelementofsurprise.Thelackofcamaraderieandco-operationbetweenthelocalpoliceandthe

SIT,unlikethecloserelationshipenjoyedbytheSITandTamilNaduPolice,waspartlytoblameforthedelayedalert,anditwouldyieldtheexpectedconsequences.Mridula’sinformationandhergraphicdescriptionofthelightlyarmedLTTE

teamlefttheSITwithasmallsenseofsatisfactionastheybelievedthattheirhardworkwasabouttopayoff,andtheywouldfinallygettheirhandsonthemenandthewomanwhohadpulledoffthesensationalandshockingmurderofanationalicon.Aliveordead.AtfirsttoyingwiththeideaofsendingMridulaorthemilkvendorintothe

houseasadecoy,theSITtrackingteamdiscardedtheproposalasbeingtootricky.TheyknewthattheonlychancetheyhadofgettingSivaresanandSubhaalivewastoensuretheydidnotaccessthecyanidecapsulestheycarriedontheirpersonorturntheirgrenadesandgunsonthemselves.Fortheassassins,timewasrunningout.Therewasnowheretorunorhide.

Forboththehuntersandthehunted,thenextfewhourswouldprovetobecritical.

Itwas17August1991.Ifhehadsurvived,RajivGandhiwouldhavebeencelebratinghisforty-seventhbirthdayinthreedays.Itwasalsothreemonths,almosttotheday,sinceSivaresanhadassassinatedhim.

DeputyCommissionerofPoliceK.Seetharam,wholookedafterRajivGandhi’ssecuritydetailwhenhewasprimeminister,hadchosentocomebacktoKarnatakain1990.Hehadbeendevastatedbythedeathofhisfavouritepolitician,particularlybythemannerinwhichhehadbeencutdowninhisprime.Atthetime,sandalwoodsmugglerVeerappanconsumedmostofhisattention.

So,whenhewassummonedlateonthenightof17AugusttomovetoMuthativillagenearMandya,andfromtheretoBiroota,wherelocalshadreportedsuspiciousactivity,thelastthingheexpectedwastostumbleuponLTTEoperatives.BythetimeSeetharamandhisteamarrivedearlythenextmorning,at2a.m.,

andraidedthehideouts,oftheninewhohadbeenhidingoutinMuthatiandtheeightinBiroota,twelvehadalreadydiedafterconsumingcyanide.Threewoulddielater.TwohadsurvivedandweretakentoBowringhospitalinBangalorefortreatment.Seetharamsaysthatwiththestepped-uphuntforRajivGandhi’skillers,he

couldneverunderstandwhyheor,forthatmatter,anySITmemberortopcopwasnotgivenaccesstothesesurvivorsandallowedtointerrogatethem,howeverjuniororinconsequentialorneardeath,theymayhavebeen.‘Itdidn’tmakeanysense,’hesaid.‘TheentirecountrywasfixatedonRajiv

Gandhi’skillersandnobodythoughtitnecessarytoquestionthetwosurvivors.’Thenextnight,around11p.m.,therewasanothersummonsfromhistop

bossesatthepoliceheadquarters.Thistime,theyweretoldthattheyhadbeentippedoffaboutanentireteamofLTTEoperatives,whichincludedRajivGandhi’skillers,hidingoutinKonanakunte.HeandhiscolleaguePrabhakar,andahandfulofcommandosfromtheNSG,rushedtothesuburbandsurroundedthehouseinthedeadofnight.Theirteamkeptwatchfromtheonlyotherbuildinginthevicinity,thehousenextdoor.Thehideoutitselfwasincompletedarkness.Itshowedabsolutelynoactivity.

Allthewindowswereshut.Nobodycouldseethemfromthehouse;theycouldn’tseeanythinginthehouseeither.Suresh’smanRangan,however,whilereturningfromthevillage,spottedthe

policevehiclesthatweresurroundingtheresidenceandtheuniformed,armedmentakingtheirpositions,andmadegoodhisescapeintheMaruti.Hewouldbe

nabbedseveraldayslaterwhenhearrivedinMadrasandfoolishlywentstraightbacktohisplaceofwork.WithRangan’sfailuretoreturn,andRanganathandMridulahavingleftthe

hideout,theTigersatKonanakuntequicklyrealizedthattheyhadnoaccesstoacaror,forthatmatter,adriver.Escapebyroadwasthereforeimpossible.Theydidn’tknowthelocallanguage,Kannada,andwerestrandedinaplacetheyknewlittleornothingabout;theyhadnomaps,noaccesstofreshfoodandwater.InremoteKonanakunte,theyhadnolocalsupportastheywouldhavehadiftheyhadstayedoninTamilNadu.Seetharambelievesthepolice,forthefirsttimesinceIndiranagar,Muthatiand

Biroota,hadthetiniestofadvantagesbut,forsomereason,theirhandwasstayedandtheyweretoldtosimplystayputuntilreinforcements—withcyanideantidotesarrived.‘Theproblemwas,anyonelookingatusfromthathousecouldseeusandour

peopleinthestairwell,and,asthesuncameup,therewewere,fullyarmedwithStenguns,barely50yardsfromthefrontdoor.Wehadlosttheelementofsurprise.WeshouldhavestormedinimmediatelyandcapturedSivaresanandSubhaalive.Butdespiterepeatedrequeststoourbosses,weweretoldtosititoutandwaitforfurtherorders.ThattheSIT,theBlackCatcommandoswereontheirway,thatthechiefwascoming,thatMuthatihadgonewrongbecausewehadrushedin,weshouldwaitforthecyanideantidote...‘Wewerethefieldunitontheground,weshouldhavebeenconsulted,our

viewstakenonboard.Weshouldhavestormedthehouseonthenightof18August.Ihavenoideawhatwewerewaitingfor,’hesaid,showingmepicturesofhimselfandhisfamilywithRajivGandhiinhappiertimes.Hebelievesthatthedelaywasbecausethetopbrasswantedtobethereandcorneralltheglory—andtheawards—whenthecommandosstormedthehouse.Withhisfrustrationcomingthrougheventwenty-fiveyearsaftertheevent,

Seetharamrecountshow,onthemorningof19August,membersofthepressarrivedattheirdoorstep,asdidtheonlytelevisionchannelsatthetime,DoordarshanandStarNews.Iftheyweren’tvisiblebefore,therewasnomissingthemnow!‘Wejustsataroundanddidabsolutelynothingfrom4a.m.tillsundown,’he

says.

At6.15p.m.,hesaystherewasaflashoflightfrominsidethehouse.Somefifteenminuteslater,onemanemergedintotheporticoandbeganshoutingloudlyashefiredseveralroundsfromamachinegunbeforegoingbackinside.‘Bulletswerericochetingallovertheplaceaswescrambledforcover,with

onebulletmissingmenarrowly,’recallsthetopcop.‘Theshooterwasaiming,forsomestrangereason,attheonlyotherbuildingthatexistedinthatarea,andalorrythatwasparkedtotheleftofthehideout.’Seetharamrecallsthatafterthemanwentinside,therewasaburstoffirefrom

thebackofthehouse—probablytheshooterandanothermanmakinganattempttoseeifthepartycouldescapefromthere—beforetherewasablastfrominsidethehouse,andthenitallfelleerilysilentagain.Eventhen,thepoliceofficersweren’tallowedtoenterthehideout.Their

instructionswerethattheyshouldwaituntilthecommandoteamandtopcopsKaarthikeyanandthelocalpolicebiggieKempaiah,theadditionaldirectorgeneralofpolice,Crime—andcurrentlyadvisertoKarnatakaChiefMinisterSiddaramaiah—arrived.At6a.m.thefollowingmorning,whenthehideoutwasfinallystormedbythe

BlackCatswhohadlandedwiththetopbrassonlyforty-fiveminutesearlier,theyfoundthatSivaresanhadbeenshotinthetemple,whileSubha,NehruandSureshMaster,andthreeotherswiththem,hadbittenonthecyanidecapsulesanddied,bleedingfromtheirmouthsandears,theirfacescontortedinagony,theirbodiestwistedinpain.Thiswasit,thefinaldenouement...Thiswasnoblazeofglory,noroaring

Tigerfightinganddyingforacause,butcravenandcowardly,theTigersandtheirKarampuli,thefallbackBlackTigress,collapsinginawhimper.Eitherbyaccidentordesign,itwasRajivGandhi’sbirthday.

3TheJaffnaConspiracy

INTHEDENSEJUNGLESOFnorth-easternSriLanka,acrossthePalkStrait,PrabhakarannursedagrudgeagainstRajivGandhiwhichwouldbecomeafull-scaleobsession.Itwashere,deepintheforestsoftheWanni,thattheplottokilltheformerIndianprimeministerwasfirsthatched.AstheLTTEchief,solitaryandfurtive,movedlikeahuntedanimalunderthe

coverofdarknessfromonehideouttoanother,nightafternight,fromJaffnaandKankesanthuraitoVadamarachchi,andVavuniyaandback,thedepthofhisfuryatRajivGandhi’sperceivedperfidywasanopensecret.Thatis,itwasasecrettoeveryonebuttheIndians.ThroughtheIPKFdeploymentinthenorth-east,heplayedagameofcatand

mousewithDelhi.Knowinghewouldbeeasypreyifhebrokecover,herarelysleptinthesamebedtwice,neithertooknormadeanytelephonecalls,trustingnoone,stayingonestepaheadofbothColomboandDelhi.Itwasahabitthatstayedwithhimtillhislastdays.Hisonlyentertainmentafterhewasforcedtoreturntotheislandnationfrom

Indiain1987camefromamovieprojectorinthesafehousehepickedtohideoutforthenight.Thisiswherehewouldwatchthelatestthrillerplayoutasshadowsonablankwall.TheTigerchief’sobsessiveparanoiafedoffKollywood,theTamilmoviesthatfeaturedhisidol,MGR,inthelead,andfilmsofthesamegenreasthe1984KamalHaasan-starrerOruKaidhiyinDiary(AConvict’sDiary)thatspunstoriesofangrymennursingagrievance,extractingretribution,drivenbyrevenge.Aschooldropout,PrabhakarandidhavehisAchilles’heel.Itwasn’twineor

womenorsong,orbooks—hegrewuponPhantomcomics—itwasthemovies.

HewasaddictedtothestringofvideosbroughttohimbytheoneRAWagentwithwhomhesharedaveryspecialrapport—thelegendaryS.Chandrasekharan,knownaffectionatelybythemoniker‘Chandran’.Chandrasekharan,whoretiredfromRAWandsetuptherespectedDelhi-

basedthinktank,theSouthAsiaAnalysisGroup,saysitwasfromthesenightlythrillersthattheJaffnaconspiracytoassassinateRajivGandhiprobablytookitsinspiration.TheFredZinnemann1973movie,TheDayoftheJackal,basedontheFrederickForsythbestseller,wastheprobablefirstseed.Prabhakaranroutinelysettledscoresbypubliclyeliminatinghisrivalstoinstil

fearinhisenemies;hisfirst‘kill’wastheJaffnamayorAlfredDuraiappahin1975,whomhereportedlyshotasheenteredtheVaradarajaPerumaltemple.ChandranbelievestheplantoassassinateRajivGandhiwasinkeepingwiththis‘killorgetkilled’philosophy.‘EveryonethinksitwastheCIAandMossadthatplantedtheideaofassassinatingRajivGandhiinPrabhakaran’shead.Ibelieveitwasthemoviesthathesaw;that’swhatgavehimtheidea,’saysChandran.Conspiracytheorists,however,demur.Itwasn’tthatDelhididn’thavehimwithinsight.IfPrabhakaranwantedtoget

backatIndiafortryingtocalltheshotsinhisbackyard,Indiahadmobilizedeveryresourceatitscommandtohaveeyesontheirprizetargetatalltimes.ButasaRAWoperativefromthaterafreelyadmits,withsurveillance

dependantontip-offsfromLankanTamilsoutsidetheinnercircle,theyneverknewpreciselywherehewasatanygivenmoment.‘Weknewtheminuteheleftthatlocation,’helaughs.Close,butnevercloseenough.DelhiundoubtedlyhadampleopportunitytoeliminatetheLTTEchiefa

numberoftimes—andchosenotto.AsaseniormemberoftheIndianAirForce(IAF),whoservedintheIPKFandwasstationedastheIAFbasesinPalalyandTrincomalee,recounts,heandthehelicoptersquadronhecommandedhadbeengivenPrabhakaran’sco-ordinates.‘Ihadmycopter,allreadytogo.Weinformedheadquartersthatwehadbeen

tippedoffonwherehewas.Oneofourchapshadtrackedhimdown.Itwasallsystemsgo.AllweneededwasclearancefromDelhiandwecouldeliminatehim.Justlikethat,’hesays,snappinghisfingers.‘Wewaitedforthesignalbutthencamethemessage—afirm“no”,’saystheseniorAirForcepilot.‘Wehad

himinoursights.Ifwehadeliminatedhimthen,whoknows...’hesayswithashrug,leavingthesentencehanging.OnlyoncethereafterdidtheIPKFgetcloseenoughtoPrabhakaran.They

bombedhisbunkerintheWanni,inhishideoutBaseOneFour,inJanuary1989.TheLTTEchief,thoughangryandupset,escapedwithbarelyascratch.ComplicatingmatterswastheconfusionandlackofclarityinDelhi’s

intelligenceandstrategiccircles,onwhetherPrabhakaranconstitutedashort-termthreattobeeliminatedoralong-termassettobecultivated.AndaddedtothiswasthequestionofwhetherthisbitplayerwhohadforcefullyinterjectedhimselfintotheIndo-SriLankanarrativebytakingontheIndianArmy,couldstillbe‘turned’;aTamil‘card’thatIndiacouldusetokeepColombooffbalanceintheyearstocome.Prabhakaranwasundernoillusionsaboutwherehestoodvis-à-visDelhi.He

mayhavemadeconcessionsonaone-on-onebasistoIndianslikeChandran,butRajivGandhi’sDelhiwastheenemy.Infact,theRAWoperative’srelationshipwiththeLTTEchiefandtheman

thatRAWcultivatedasitsLTTEinsider,ColKittu,realnameSathasivanKrishnakumar,wassostrongthatwhenIndiansoldierswerebeingheldprisonerbytheLTTE,itwasChandran—ashehimselfadmits—whomtheIndianArmycalledforhelp.‘TheyaskedmetointercedewiththeLTTEandgetourmenreleased,’he

says.‘Idid.IsteppedinwhenMilitaryIntelligence[MI]askedforhelp.’HeknewtheLankanTamilleaderslikefewothers,allwereonafirst-namebasiswithhim.Chandranwaslow-key,nondescript.RAWrecruitsofthattimestillrecall

how,inthemid-1980s,hewouldsimplythrowabagoverhisshoulder,getonamotorbikeandzoomofffromtheirofficeinMadrasandnotbeseenorheardofformonthstogether.TheirguesswasthatChandran,theonlyIndianwhocouldreachouttothetoprungsoftheTamilmilitantgroups,hadeitherheadedofftoJaffnaonaclandestineboatortooneofthemanycampsinthestatewheretheTamilgroupswerebeinggivenmilitarytraining.Thirtyyearslater,incidentally,Chandrancontinuestostaunchlydenythat

IndianoperativestrainedtheLankanTamilseparatists.‘Wedidn’tneedto.OnegroupofTamilshadalreadytravelledtoPalestineandreceivedmilitarytraining

fromGeorgeHabash’swingofthePLO[PalestineLiberationOrganization].Whenthatfirstgroupcameback,theytrainedtheothers;Indiahadnoroletoplayingivingthemmilitarytraining,’insistsChandran,aspoliticallycorrectasever,leavingoutthefactthatIndiahadprovidedrefugeandsetupthecampswheretheTamilstrained.Thirtyyearslater,asdifficultasitisforhimtoaccept,Chandranalso

acknowledgesthatPrabhakaran’sblackwarrantforRajivGandhiwasunexpected.‘Ididn’tseeitcoming.IthoughtIknewhim,butonedidn’texpectthis.It

makesmewanttoweep;itsaddensmedeeplythatwewereunabletosaveRajivGandhi.Weshouldhavesavedhim,weshouldhaveknown.Wedidn’treallygetPrabhakaran,’saysChandran.ManymembersofhisRAWfraternityaswellasseniormembersofIndia’s

militarywhoservedinSriLankawiththeIPKFhavegonepublicovertheyearswiththeirdisquietontheroleplayedbytheColomboeliteandthepoliticalfamilies,particularlyPresidentPremadasawhoissaidtohavefuelledPrabhakaran’santipathytowardsRajivGandhi.RajivGandhiwasaleaderwhomColomboand,forthatmatter,Pakistan’scounter-intelligenceagency,Inter-ServicesIntelligence(ISI),whichhadamajorpresenceintheSriLankancapital,didnotwanttoseereturntoleadIndia.AndPrabhakaranwaseasypickingsforanyonewantingtosettlescoreswith

‘BigBrother’.Indiapaidhimscantattentiontobeginwith,preferringLankanTamilgroupssuchasthePeople’sLiberationOrganisationofTamilEelam(PLOTE)andEPRLF.AsIndiaplayedfootsiewiththeothergroups,theLTTEgrewmorepowerful,

tighteningitsholdovertheTamilpeopleunderanevermoremenacingPrabhakaranwhorefusedtoberelegatedtothemarginsoftheTamildiscourse.Delhicouldnolongeraffordtoignorehim.Butintryingtocontainandmanagehim,theyerred,anderredbadly.PrabhakaranfirstcametoChandran’snoticeafterhisactiveroleinthe

butcheryofelevenSriLankansoldiers,theincidentthattriggeredtheJuly1983raceriotsinColombo,andthestormingoftheAnuradhapuratemplethatkilledmorethan140worshippersandmonkstwoyearslater.That,andtheearliershootoutonPLOTEleaderUmaMaheswaraninMadrasinbroaddaylightin

1982,afterthetwohadfallenout,whenPrabhakaranwasdetainedbutjumpedbail,hadRAW’sinstantattention.Fromthenon,Prabhakaran,whohadlaunchedhisownviolent,separatist

movementwithbarelyfiftymentocallhisown,wasonChandran’sradar.ChandranwasoneofthefewwhofelttheyunderstoodandempathizedwiththeangryyoungmanfromVelvettithurai—andtheothersdrawntohim—whotookuparmsagainstColombo.Amanoffewwords,Prabhakaran,whotookrefugeinIndiain1983and

receivedarmstraininginacampontheTamilNadu–Karnatakaborder,metRajivGandhiforthefirsttimeat10,JanpathinJune1985,afterhewaspickedoutfromthecrowdforhisleadershippotential.‘Hespokelittle,buthewouldhearyouout,letyousaywhateveryouwanted

tosay,neversharingwhathereallythought.Theonlytimeyouknewwhathewasthinkingwaswhenhegotangry.ForPrabhakaran,theonethinghecouldneverforgivewastreachery.Hewouldflyintoarage,getcompletelyincensedaboutitandpronounceadeathsentence,’saysChandran,describingthemindsetoftheLTTEchief.ItwasChandranandhisteamwhoreportedlyshepherdedPrabhakaranto

pivotalmeetingswithRajivGandhi,particularlythelastoneon29July1987,whentheLTTEleaderwasforcedtoaccept—albeitonlyverbally—thathesupportedaunitarySriLanka.ThiswashoursbeforetheIndianpremierheadedtoSriLankawherehewouldinktheIndo-SriLankapeaceaccordwithSriLankanPresidentJuniusJayewardene,therebyendingPrabhakaran’sdreamsforaseparatenation.Thosepresentatthatmeetingat10,Janpaththatday—includingLTTE

ideologueAntonBalasingham—wouldlaterremarkonhowsanguinePrabhakaranseemedatthetime.Didhemistakenlybelievethathedidnothavetosupporttheaccordinpublicandwouldhavetodonomorethanmakeatokensurrenderofarms,orwashesimplymaskinghisanger,bidinghistimeuntilhecouldtakerevenge?HewasgiftedabulletproofjacketthatRajivGandhiowned;itwasplacedon

Prabhakaran’sshouldersbyRajivGandhi’syoungson,Rahul,withRajivGandhisaying,‘Takecareofyourself.’RajivGandhi’snaivety?Perhaps.

OfficialsattheJulymeeting,includingthethenforeignminister,P.V.NarasimhaRao,toldRajivGandhithatPrabhakarancouldnotbetrusted,andtheCongressleaderreportedlydismissedthemsaying,‘Prabhakaranhasgivenhisword.Itrusthim.’TheLTTEleaderhadshownlittleemotion.Whereoncehehadbristledat

beingtreatedlikeabitplayer,nomorethanasideshowintherun-uptotheJuly1985peacetalksinThimpuandtotheNovember1986SAARCsummitinBangalore,now,hekepthiscool.Hehadtakentheslightsinhisstrideinthepast,believingitwasworthhiswhileaslongasIndiasupportedtheLTTE’squestforEelam,asithadthecreationofBangladesh.Hadthewormturned?Orhadheseenthewritingonthewallanddeliberatelykepthiscounsel?WhenhewasescortedbacktoAshokHotelaftermeetingRajivGandhiin

1987,therealPrabhakaranopenedup,rantingandravinginTamiltohis‘friend’Vaiko,theTamilNadupoliticianV.Gopalaswamy,withwhomhehadbuiltabond,sayingthathehadbeen‘betrayed’.HerepeatedmuchthesamethoughtwhenhewasforciblyflownbacktoJaffnainAugustandspoketothepresstheresoonafter.OncetheTigerswereforcedtoactuallyde-weaponizeandtheEPRLFwere

primedtotakechargeofthenorthandtheeastinelectionstothecouncilheldunderthepurviewoftheIPKF,Prabhakaranfullyunderstoodhisnewlydiminishedstatus.Thatbecamethegenesisforhisgrudgeagainsthisnewfoundnemesis,RajivGandhi.AsjournalistandauthorM.R.NarayanSwamycorrectlysurmisedinhisbook

TheTigerVanquished,1Prabhakaranmaynothaveplayedbytheruleshimself,jettisoningfairplaywhenitsuitedhim.Butbetrayhim,andvengeanceanddeathwerecertain.InOctober1989,astheIPKFbeganreducingitsmilitaryfootprintunder

pressurefromtheSriLankangovernmentandtheLTTE’sguerrillatactics,Prabhakaranwasputtingthefinishingtouchestohis‘hate’list.LeadersoftheotherLankanTamilpoliticalgroupswhocompetedwithhimforthefealtyoftheTamilpeoplewereonit.ButtoppingthelistwastheIndianprimeministerwhohadrobbedhimofhisdreamofheadingaseparateTamilstate.InApril1990,asthelastoftheIPKFforcesbegantowithdrawfromSri

Lankaafterathirty-two-monthdeployment,Prabhakaranemergedfromhis

junglehideout,wherehehadremainedhiddenforovertwoandahalfyears,andmetthepress.InresponsetoaquestionbyaSriLankanjournalistfromtheSundayTimesonwhyhehadturnedagainstRajivGandhiandtheIPKF,Prabhakaran,whorarelysharedhisinnermostthoughts,hadthistosay:‘TheLTTEarenotagainsttheIndianpeopleortheIndiangovernmentbuttheyareagainsttheformeradministratorofIndia.’Inotherwords,RajivGandhi.Tragically,neithertheIBnorRAWpickeduponthatfirstwarningshot.InthefirstweekofMay1990,onaswelteringday,deepinthejunglesbeyond

Jaffna,longbeforeanyonehadaninklingofwhatheintended,Prabhakaranbegantomovethepawnsonhis‘KillRajivGandhi’chessboard.Hesummonedhisintelligencechief,PottuAmman,and,forthefirsttime,voicedtheideaofeliminatingRajivGandhi.BothPottuAmmanandoneofPrabhakaran’strustedbodyguardswhowaspresent,stronglyadvisedhimagainstit,anLTTEsympathizerwhowasclosetothedevelopmentstoldme.‘Theywarnedhimthattheconsequencesofeliminatingtheleaderofanother

countryaspowerfulasIndiawouldbegrave,’thesympathizersaid.PottuAmmanknewitwouldrobtheLTTEofitsonlysafehavenacrossthe

PalkStraitwherehesenthiswoundedcadresfortreatment,andalienatetheIndianTamilswhosupportedandbackedtheircause.TheothercomplicationwasthattheIndianArmynowknewthelayofthelandbetterthanwhentheyhadfirstarrivedinAugust1987andwouldbeamuchmoredifficultforcetotackle.Prabhakaranissaidtohaveagreedwiththem.Butwhathedidn’ttellthem

wasthathehadnotgivenupontheidea.Instead,hebegantoputhisPlanBintoaction.TohisLTTEcommanders,itwouldbesoldasaplantogetridofPadmanabhaoftheEPRLF,amanwhoserisewouldhaveeclipsedtheTigers.ForPrabhakaran,itwouldbeatrialrunforapossibleRajivGandhiassassination.InrunningtheIPKFoutoftownin1990,Prabhakaranbelievedhehadcleared

theLTTE’sownpathtopower.ButwithinamonthoftheIPKF’sexit,SriLankanPresidentPremadasahadbegunnegotiationswiththeEPRLFtoputafriendlier,moreamenableTamilgovernmentinplaceinthenorthandtheeast.TheLTTEhadcomeinusefultoridtheislandofIndianforces.Butthat’swhereitended.PremadasanolongerhadanyusefortheLTTE.

PrabhakaranwouldsettlescoreswithPremadasalater,havinghimassassinatedbyaTamilsuicidebomberinMay1993,anofficialinvestigationbyColombo’sdeputyinspectorgeneraloftheCriminalInvestigationDepartment,AmarasenaRajapakse,wouldlatershow.TheLTTEleader’smole,abisexualvalethehadplantedinthePresident’shouseholdwhobecamehiseyesandears,tippedtheTigersoffabouttheelectionmeetingwherePremadasawouldbeblownup,RajivGandhi-style,byasuicidebomber.TheLTTEchiefwasincensedbySriLankanofficialdom’sactiveco-operationwithIndianofficersinvestigatingRajivGandhi’sassassinationwhentheyarrivedinColomboinJune1991,whichhelpedidentifyallthemainplayersinvolved,andwouldconclusivelyimplicatePrabhakaran.Ragothaman,partoftheSIT,saysthatPremadasa’sroleinRajivGandhi’s

assassinationhasneverbeenfullyexplored;asdoesLtGen.A.S.Kalkat,thegeneralofficercommanding-in-chiefoftheIPKF.ButinearlyJune1990,Prabhakaranhadotherthingsonhismind.He

summonedPottuAmmanagain.HeaskedhimtofindamanwhocouldtraveltoTamilNaduandeliminatePadmanabha.Twoweekslater,Padmanabha,alongwiththirteenothers,wasmurderedinanLTTE-styleeliminationoperationon19June1990attheEPRLFofficeinMadrasbyacrackLTTEteamhand-pickedbyPrabhakaran.HeadingtheteamwasSivaresan,themannamed‘One-eyedJack’bytheIndianmedia,whowouldpullofftheassassinationofRajivGandhielevenmonthslater,astone’sthrowawayfromthesamecity,usingthesamekindofbomb-makingmaterials.ThePadmanabhahitwasmorethanadryrunfortheRajivGandhi

assassination.Prabhakaranhadfoundhisassassin.InAugust1990,anearlycopyofaninterviewthatRajivGandhihadgivento

theABPpublicationSundaytomarkhisbirthday,reinforcedPrabhakaran’sresolvetoeliminatehim.Thistime,neitherPottuAmmannortheothermembersofhisinnercircle,likeAkila—whotrainedthetwogirlspickedtobesuicidebombers—coulddisagree.TheSundayinterviewhadRajivGandhispellingouthisSriLankapolicyin

nouncertainterms:‘Today,theyaresaying“wewillneversendIndiantroopsanywhere”orsomethinglikethat...Ifafriendlycountryneedshelp,whatwillwedo?Maldivesaskedforhelp.WerewesupposedtosaynoandlettheUnited

StatessendpeopletotheMaldives?Thisgovernmentwouldbetotallyabrogatingitsresponsibilitytotheregion...creatingavacuumthatotherswillfill.’InthesameinterviewRajivGandhialsosaid,‘TheIPKFwasinSriLankato

fightfortheunityandintegrityofSriLanka.’Prabhakaranwantedaseparatestate.RajivGandhi,whohadnoillusions

aboutIndia’sgrowingstatusasaresponsibleSouthAsianpower,stoodbetweenhimandhisdream.DespitelosingtheNovember1989pollsanddecliningtoheadaminority

government,RajivGandhi’sCongressstillhadthelargestnumberofMPsintheLokSabha,whichmadehimpowerfulenoughtopulldowngovernmentsifhewantedto—and,toagreatextent,influencepolicy.Andnow,muchtothechagrinoftheTigers,ayearlater,hewasonthecomebacktrail.BySeptember1990,PrabhakaranhadsettheRajivGandhiassassinationplan

inmotionbyquietlydispatchingthefirstsetofconspirators—amannamedVijayan;hiswife,Selvi;andherfather,Bhaskaran—allposingasrefugees,toIndia.TheirhouseinKodungaiyur,Madras,wouldbethefirstofmanysafehousesthattheassassinationsquadswoulduse,astheSITinvestigationintothe21Maymurderousattackwouldfind.AsV.P.Singh’sNationalFrontgovernmentlookedevermoreshaky,

Prabhakaran,inearlyOctober1990,summonedhiskeyadvisersforacrucialmeetingtoassessthechancesoftheCongresspresidentreturningtopower.TheconsensuswasthataRajivGandhicomebackwasallbutcertain,whichmeanttwothingstotheLTTEleader—Indianforceswouldbere-deployedinnorth-eastSriLankatoenforceRajivGandhi’spetproject,andthedeep-rootedLTTEnetworksetupinTamilNaduwiththeactiveco-operationoftheDKandtheDMKwouldbedismantled.Thistime,thecannyPrabhakaranwasabletobringhismilitarycommanders

roundtohisviewthatassassinatingRajivGandhiwastheonlyoptiontosafeguardtheLTTE’sinterests.Butonlyhisinnercirclewouldbeprivytothis.ByNovember1990,theV.P.Singhgovernmentdidfallandtheformerfiery

‘YoungTurk’Chandrashekharbecamecaretakerprimeminister,hisgovernmentsupportedfromtheoutsidebyRajivGandhi’sCongressparty.ToPrabhakaran,thiswasn’tthebestnews.Amid-termpollseemedlikeaveryrealpossibilityand

intheeventofRajivGandhibecomingprimeminister,hisSPG-providedsecuritywouldbevirtuallyimpenetrable.Theonlywayhecouldbeeliminatedwasiftheystruckwhenhewasstillin

theOpposition,orwhenhewasonthecampaigntrailwheresecuritywouldbenoticeablylax.TheironyisthattheplotunfoldedrightunderthenoseoftheIB.AlthoughithadestablishedthenexusbetweentheDK,theDMKandtheLTTE,andbasedonthat,hadtheDMKgovernmentinTamilNaduledbythepro-LTTEKarunanidhidismissed,theyfailedtoconnectthedotsorpreventtheLTTEfromcontinuingtooperateasfreelyasitdidbeforePresident’srulewasimposedinthestate.BytheendofNovember,Prabhakaran’splanwasallbutready.Hesummoned

hisMadras-basedLTTEpropagandachief‘Baby’SubramaniamtoJaffna,whoarrivedintheLTTEheadquartersinthefirstweekofDecemberandwasthefirstmanoutsidetheinnercircletobebriefedontheTigerchief’shigh-profiletarget.PrabhakaranwasconfidentofPottuAmman’sprotégéSivaresan’sabilityto

pulloffthehit.Sivaresanwastobeassistedbytwopeople—MuthurajaandMurugan;thefirst,theLTTE’s‘go-to’maninMadras,andthesecond,aJaffna-basedexplosivesexpert.Bythebeginningof1991,Prabhakaran’schosenquartetwasatwork.‘Baby’

SubramaniamandMuthurajabegantowidenthecircleoftheirLTTEnetworkinMadras,lookingforfamiliesthatcouldprovideacoverforthegangofassassinsthatwasbeingreadiedtocrossthePalkStrait.TheyhomedinonSubhaSundaram’sShubhaNewsandPhotoAgency,a

hotbedofpro-LTTEDKsympathizersinMadras.PrabhakaranreachedoutdirectlytoSubhaandaskedhimtohelpMuthuraja.Muthuraja,inturn,scoutedamongthephotographersthatSubhahadoncall,andpickedHaribabuandanotherphotographer,whowereentrustedwithhousingandtraininga‘guest’whowascominginfromJaffna.HaribabubecameanenthusiasticmemberoftheMuthurajacircleafterhewas

paidhandsomely;heevenbefriendedthe‘guest’,Balan,whowouldconverthimtotheircause.Next,‘Baby’SubramaniamrecruitedayoungDKsupporter,thepenniless

Bhagyanathan,alongwithhissister,Nalini,andhismother,Padma,anurseemployedatalocalnursinghome,whoweresoontobeevictedfromtheir

quarters,andweredesperateforfinancialassistance.‘Baby’Subramaniam‘sold’hisprintingpresstoBhagyanathanforapaltryRs5000andtheentirefamilymovedintotheirnewhomeatthepress.Subramaniamhadhiscaptiveaudience—bothforthevirulentlyanti-RajivGandhipropagandathathadtobeprintedandwhichthefamilywouldbesubjectedtoandbrainwashedintobelieving,andastheperfecthideoutwhen‘friends’camevisitingfromJaffna.NaliniwasgivenchargeofeditingandproducingSatanicForces:Heinous

CrimesoftheIndianPeaceKeepingForce.Thiswasa3000-pagecollectionofanti-IndiaarticlesthatwouldturntheyoungwomanintoafiercecriticofRajivGandhiandawillingaccomplicetothemurder.SivaresanandMurugan,meanwhile,werestillinJaffna.Theyneededtwo

youngsterswhowereadeptatworkingtransmittersandcomputers,andhomedinonLTTEcadresJayakumarandPayasfromUdippidy,Sivaresan’shometowninJaffna.ThetwoweredispatchedtoMadrasinFebruary,tothePorurhomeofJayakumar’sbrother-in-law,Perarivalan,ontheoutskirtsofthecity.Perarivalan,theLTTEelectronicgenius,hadbeensenttoMadrasfromKilinochchiayearago,withoutanyoneinIndianintelligenceawareofhistruecapabilities.WhenMuruganarrivedinmid-February,loadedwithcashandweapons,all

thatPerarivalanwastoldwasthathehadamajorattacktoplanfor:hewastoconstructabelt-bombfromexplosivesandRDX.TheysoonfoundathirdsafehousewherePayasandJayakumarwerethenensconced,andequippedwithascooterboughtwithafakelicence.Bythen,MurugantoowasbroughtintotheBhagyanathancirclebyMuthurajaandbecameanintegralmemberofthefamily,growingespeciallyclosetoNalini.‘Baby’SubramaniamandMuthurajahad,inthespaceofeightweeks,notonly

co-optedanIndianTamilfamilytotheircause,butsetupthreesafehouses,activatedarogueradiooperatorandthemanwhocouldconstructthebombthatthesuicidebomberwoulduse.Alltheyneedednowwasthesuicidebomber.On1March,afterreceivingMurugan’sreportonthearrangementsthathad

beenputinplace,SivaresanlandedatKodiakkaraiontheeastcoastofTamilNadu,notfarfromNagapattinam.HeheadedforthesafehouseinPorurwherePerarivalan’sbelt-bombdesignwasstillonlyonpaper.Sivaresansetthewheelsinmotiontoacquiretheexplosives,fallingbackon

thesamesourcefromwhomhehadacquiredthebombstofellPadmanabha—

KP,theLTTE’sinfamousarmsprocurerandchieffinancier,who,overthenextmonth,wouldsmugglein1kiloofRDXaswellasthedeadlypelletsfromafactoryinSingapore,whichwerefinallyusedinthebomb.SivaresanmovedintoBhagyanathan’shome.Hespunthewebtighteraround

thefiveIndiansandthethreeLankanTamilswhowereinontheconspiracythathadbeenforgedinsuchsecrecyinPrabhakaran’sheadquartersinJaffna,littlemorethansixmonthsago.BythelastweekofMarch,‘Baby’SubramaniamandMuthuraja—theirpartof

themissionaccomplished—headedbacktoJaffna,whileSivaresanwouldreturninearlyApriltobriefPrabhakaranandPottuAmmanonthearrangementsthatwereinplace.Pleased,theLTTEchiefisreportedtohaveaskedthatthedryrunandtheactualassassinationberecorded.Thisprovedtobeafatalerror.Meanwhile,eitherinanelaborateploytolullRajivGandhiintoafalsesense

ofcomplacencyorgaugeforhimselfwherehistrueintentionslay,theLTTEsupremowouldsendoutthefirstofthreeemissaries.Thefirstwason5March1991,whenRajivGandhimetaseniormemberof

theLTTE’scentralcommittee,KasiAnandan,athis10,JanpathhomeinNewDelhi.ThemeetingwasheldattheinitiativeoftheLTTEandwasputoutasthefirstmovebytheTigerstomendfenceswiththeIndianleaderwhomtheyhadpubliclyvilifiedfororderingtheIndianArmyintoSriLanka’snorthandeastin1987,effectivelyfoilingtheirarmedstruggleforaseparatestate.OneofthemenwhohelpedfacilitatethemeetingbetweenKasiandRajiv

GandhiwouldlatertellmehowthebackchannelsbetweenIndiaandSriLankahadbeenactivelytryingtoforgeatrucebetweentheLTTEandtheformerprimeminister.Kasi,wholivesinatinyruraltownshipoffthehighwayontheoutskirtsof

Chennai—eerilyclosetoSriperumbudur—isamorethangracioushostwhenIlandathisdoorstepinearly2015.Hishomeistuckedawayfromthemainroadandthereisnonameplate

announcinghispresence,butthemasonworkingonahousejustaroundthecornerknowsexactlywhereKasilives.Hepointsusintherightdirection,callingtothelong-hairedSriLankanashewaitsforusatthecorner:‘Yourguestshavearrived.’

AccompanyingmeisamanthatKasitrustsimplicitlyandheopensupwitheaseinhispresence,talkingofhowtheTigerleaderwantedhimtogoandmeetRajivGandhi,toascertainthattherewouldbenorepeatof1987,nosendingIndiantroopsintoSriLankatodestroytheTigersagain.Ashisdaughterbustlesaroundbrewingtea,Kasistronglyrefutesthe

imputationthatitwashisreportonthemeetingthatsetofftheassassination.ThemessagehesenttoPrabhakaranwasthatRajivGandhi,whosevictoryinthe1991electionsseemedcertain,wouldnotinterfereinSriLankaduringhissecondtenure.‘EventheofficersinvestigatingRajivGandhi’sassassinationweregiven

accesstomyreport.TheyknowwhatIhavesaid,’saidtheearnestKasi,bristlingatthecharge,ashetalksabouthowheshareddetailsofthatconversationwithTheHindu’sowner-editorsaswellastheSITteamoncetheinvestigationintothekillingbegan.Atthetime,though,noneofthesecurityagencieswasprivytoKasi’smeeting

withtheformerprimeminister,andthereisnorecordofwhenhewassecretlybroughtfromNewDelhi’sAshokHotelto10,Janpath.ItmayhavetakenplaceatthebehestofPrabhakaranhimself,nodoubt,usingthemultipleconnectionshehadwithpoliticiansandjournalistsinMadrastohisadvantage.FromKasi’shome,whicheventodayisavirtualshrinetoPrabhakaran,lined

withoillampsandabankofphotographswiththeTigerleaderandhisownbrother,anLTTEmartyr,theTigeremigresays,‘ItoldhimthatcontrarytoreportsthatappearedinthenewspapersthathadRajivGandhisayinghewasgoingtosendtroopsbacktoSriLanka,RajivGandhihimselfpersonallyassuredmethathehadnointentionofdoingso.’Infact,Kasimayhaveonlyspeededupplansfortheassassination.PrabhakaranwassofuriouswhenhereceivedKasi’sreportwhichsaiditwas

timetoforgetthepastandopenanewchapterwithRajivGandhi,thathenotonlytoreitupinanger,butimmediatelygavethegreensignaltohisdeputy,ColKittu,andthedeputyleaderofthewomen’swing,Akila,toputplansfortheassassinationintomotion.PrabhakaranwasconvincedthatKasi’sjudgementwascompletelyoffthe

mark.HesentamessagetotheLondon-basedKittutofindawaytogetclosetohisRAWsourceinDelhiandsussouttherealthinkingoftheCongressleader.

Littlemorethanaweeklateron14March1991,PrabhakaransentanotherteamofLTTEofficialsthroughColKittutomeettheformerIndianpremier,alongwithaTigeremissarywhohadalsobeenflowninbyKittufromtheUnitedKingdom.ThiswasLondon-basedfinancierArjunaSittampalam,whohadbeenbroughttoseetheformerIndianpremierthroughtheinterventionofhistrustedForeignSecretaryRomeshBhandari.ThisiswhentheLTTEoperativesreportedlyletitbeknownthattheyposednothreattohimandwouldneveractagainstIndia,andencouragedhimtocampaigninTamilNadu.RajivGandhi,inturn,madesolicitousinquiriesaboutPrabhakaran’shealth

andsoughtdetailsonhowthegroundsituationwasandwhereColombo’splanstodevolvepowertothenorth,nowstood.Itwas,infact,SittampalamwhocorrectlygaugedRajivGandhi’sintentions,andwouldsignalhowlittletheLTTEshouldtrustRajivGandhi.Inathirdmeetingafortnightlater,on28March,ofwhichthereisnoofficial

recordatall,barringanentryinthevisitorsbookbyhispersonalsecretary,V.George,RajivGandhimetRajarattinam,theDelhi-basedrepresentativeoftheEelamNationalDemocraticLiberationFront(ENDLF).RajivGandhi,whoperceivedRajarattinamasbeinganti-LTTE,notfullyrealizingthattheENDLFsharedtheLTTE’sgoalofsettingupanIlankaiEelam,lethisguarddown.Hewasmuchmorevocalandopenatthatmeeting,freelyairinghisviewsthatPrabhakaranandtheLTTEwereagroupthathecouldneverfullyendorse.WordoftheconversationbetweenthetwomentrickledbacktotheLTTEchief.PrabhakaranmayhavepulledthewooloverRajivGandhi’seyes,butthere

wasnofoolingtheLTTEsupremo.ByApril1991,thehuntforasuicidebomberhadbeguninearnest.When

Akilareportedlysuggestedthatitwouldbeeasiertosmuggleawomanassassinintoanelectionrallythanaman,Prabhakaranwassoldontheidea.Sivaresansoonhomedinonhisownkin,twoofhiscousins,bothtrainedTigressesfiercelycommittedtothecause—DhanuandSubha.On1May1991,SivaresanreturnedtoIndiawithasquadofnine,including

thetwoyoungwomenwhoweretakentoNalini’shome.Athird,Athirai,hadalreadybeensenttoDelhiasafallbackoptionafterherarrivalon1March.ThethirdwomanandtheDelhiroutewasPottuAmman’sidea.AthiraiwassentinthecompanyofanoldLTTEhand,Kanakasabapathy,whostayedinahousein

Delhi’sMotiBagh,whichbelongedtoTamilpoliticianVaiko’sassociate.Vaiko,incidentally,wasneverquestionedonthehelphegavePrabhakaran’sassociate,andtheSITonlyquestionedhimasa‘witness’andnotaconspiratorintheplottoassassinatetheformerpremier.NoneofthemknewthatthetargetwasRajivGandhi,andwereunderthe

impressionthatitwasVaradarajaPerumal,theEPRLFleader.Perarivalan,meanwhile,wastoldthebombwouldbemadeupofsix80-gm

RDXgrenades,armedwith2000splinters,andchargedwitha9-mmbatterywithtwotoggleswitches.Ithadtobesecretedintoadenimvest,andawomanwouldbewearingit.Thetailorwhostitchedthedenimgarmenthadnoideawhatitwasmeantfor.Allthatremainedwerethetrialruns.Thefirstwason21AprilatMarina

BeachinMadrasatRajivGandhi’sfirstcampaignmeetinginTamilNadu,whichwasalsoaddressedbyAIADMKleaderJayalalitha.Avideoandphotographsrecordtheevent,wherethewomenbombershadnoroletoplayastheyhadnotyetarrivedinthecity.Thesecondwason12May,atameetingaddressedbyV.P.SinghandKarunanidhioftheDMKatThiruvallurinArkonam,40kilometresfromMadras.Thistime,Dhanuwaspresentandtheyoungwoman,inamacabrerehearsal,practisedthegestureshewouldrepeatwithRajivGandhionthefatefulnightof21May—bybendingdownandtouchingSingh’sfeet.Ragothamanhasaninterestingtakeonthedateandvenueoftherallywhere

RajivGandhi’sendwouldcome.‘FewknewaboutRajivGandhi’sSriperumbudurhaltastheoriginalitinerarypreparedon13May1991byCongressleaderMargaretAlva,histourmanager,didnotincludethetown.ThechangeinRajivGandhi’spollitinerarytoincludeSriperumbudurwasmadeatthelastminuteafterMargathamChandrashekhar,whowasthepartycandidatethere,urgedhimtocampaignforher.RajivGandhihadjotteddowninhisownwritingthechangeinitinerary,“IncludeAunty’s(asMargathamwascalledbytheGandhis)constituencyalso,butonlyforaday,”hewrote.’Sivaresanwouldn’tfindoutRajivGandhiwascomingtoSriperumbuduruntil

theTamilnewspaperDinatanthiputoutthenews,barelytwenty-fourhoursbeforethe21Mayrally.Sivaresanknewthiswashisopportunity,hisbestandhislastchance,before

pollswoundup.AshearrivedatNalini’shomewithacopyofthepopularTamil

dailyonthemorningof20May,itwasdecided:Sriperumbuduritwouldbe.Onthenightof20May,theco-conspiratorswatchedamovieandseemed

calm,asifthenextdaywouldbejustanotherordinaryday.ThewomenwatchedDhanuasshetriedonthevest-bombandtheoutsizedglassesthatwouldhelpmaskherface.At4.30p.m.on21May,DhanuandSubha,alongwithNaliniandSivaresan,leftforParry’sCornerwhereHaribabu,thephotographer,waswaiting.Hehadbeensenttobuythesandalwoodgarlandfromthestatehandicraftsstore,Poompuhar,andwaswaitingforthem,armedwithaborrowedChinoncameraandaKonicacolourroll.Noonelookedtwiceatthegroupoffiveastheycaughtthebusto

Sriperumbudur;theywerejustsomeelectiongroupiesgoingtothemaineventintown.Theyarrivedat8p.m.,anhourbeforeRajivGandhilandedinMadras,pilotinghisownplanefromVisakhapatnam.Atthevenue,theyattractedtheattentionofanalertladycopwhoaskedthem

tomoveoutoftheVIPenclosureandtheredcarpetthatwasbeingrolledout,asRajivGandhiwasn’tduethereforseveralhours.Infact,Anasuya,thesub-inspector,questionedadayaftertheassassination,

wouldidentifythefiveandconfirmthattheyhadcometogetherasagroup.Askedwhattheyweredoingthere,HaribabutoldAnasuyahewastheretotakepicturesofthegirlgarlandingRajivGandhi.Thesub-inspectorshooedthemaway.SubhaandNalini,andSivaresanwhowasarmedwithaguntofinishthejobif

Dhanudidn’tsucceed,movedaway,leavingDhanuandHaribabuneartheredcarpetintheso-called‘sanitizedarea’onwhichRajivGandhiwouldwalkonhiswaytothedais.RajivGandhiarrivedjustafter10p.m.andwasimmediatelymobbedby

Congresssupporterstryingtogarlandhimandpresenthimwithsilkscarves.SeeingDhanuapproach,Anasuyasteppedinfrontofher,grabbedherarmina

bidtopreventherfromgettingclosetoRajivGandhi,andhadalmostsucceededinturningheraway,whenRajivGandhisaid:‘Leteverybodygetachance.’Anasuyasteppedback.DhanubentdowntotouchRajivGandhi’sfeet.RajivGandhibenttoliftherup.Dhanuactivatedthebomb.ThemessagethatagrimPrabhakaranreceivedonthewirelesslaterthatnight,

sentbyPayas,was,‘OperationWeddingsuccessful.’

TheJaffnaConspiracyhadbeenexecutedtothesatisfactionoftheLTTEchief.

Withintwenty-fourhours,otherTamilmilitantgroupshousedincampsacrossTamilNadu—theEelamPeople’sDemocraticParty(EPDP),theEPRLFandTamilEelamLiberationOrganisation(TELO)—laidtheblamesquarelyatPrabhakaran’sdoor.TheLTTE’sLondonheadquartersanditsspokespersoninJaffnawere

uncharacteristicallyvigorousintheirdenialofanyinvolvementintheassassination.AnyoneandeveryonewhotrackedtheTigerswassurprised,therefore,when

on25May,fourdaysafterRajivGandhiwasassassinated,areportappearedinTheHinduwhichattemptedtoreinforcetheLTTEdenial,presentingareasonedargumentastowhytheTigershadnoreasontokillhim.Thereport—whichwasclearlyanLTTEplant—claimedthattherewasa

‘reassessmentoftheroleofRajivGandhibytheLTTE’,andarecognitiononthepartoftheoutfitthatthe‘withdrawal...allowedColombotoresortwithimpunitytoamilitarysolution,allthepromisesofdevolutiontotheTamilpeople...fallinginaheapbythewayside.’Theconcludingparagraphread,‘TheLTTEhadseenforitselfthatRajiv

Gandhiwasnothostiletoitandthatdiscoverypresentedapositiveopeninginpoliticalterms.TheindicationsthattheLTTEseemedtobeplacingitsstakesonthereturnofRajivGandhitopowerwouldmilitateagainstahastyconclusionthatthemilitantgrouphadaninterestinkillingRajivGandhi,justtwomonthsafterthewoundedrelationshipbetweentheLTTEandRajivGandhihadbeenputonafriendlierfooting.’TheLTTE,asalways,atitsbestwhenitwasmuddyingthemessage!

4TheTamilCard—StrategyorBlunder?

ATTHEHEIGHTOFTHESriLankancrisisinthe1980sand1990s,allthemajorplayersinthatcountryaccusedIndiaofattemptingtodestabilizeitssmallerneighbourbyarmingTamilseparatists.Andtheycontinuedtoholdontothisbeliefthroughallthefinger-pointingandaccusationsthatfollowed.Sothecentralquestionthatmustbeaddressedisthis:WhydidIndiaunderIndiraGandhiprepareforacovertintervention,onlyforhersonandsuccessor,RajivGandhi,toabandontheTamilcardand,byaccidentordesign,turnastrategicassetintoanenemy?WasIndia’sSriLankapolicydrivenbythesetwoIndianleaderspersonally?

Orwasittheiradviserswhoalteredtheirthinkingonthisunquietislandand,oncethathappened,sentrelationsbetweenthetwocountriesintoadownwardspiral?Clearly,IndiraandRajivGandhilivedindifferenttimesandweregoverned

byvastlydifferingstrategicimperatives.Theywerealsotwoindividualswholookedatforeignpolicythroughdifferentprisms.Eitherway,historywouldshowthatneitherofthepathschosenbythetwoleadersfullyservedIndianinterests.Onetalkedwarbutneverwagedit;theothertalkedpeacebutwenttowar.Inthelongrun,armingtheTamilinsurgentswouldprovetobecounter-

productiveasitgaveangryyoungTamilmenandwomenwhohadanaxetogrindagainsttheSinhalasaccesstoarmsandweaponrytheywouldnothavehadotherwise.Indiafailedtofactorinthatevenifitshutoffthearmstap,theTamilshad

enoughmiddlemen—SriLankanTamil,Indianandforeign—toprocureweapons

throughalternativesources.LeavingtheTamilinsurgentsstranded,withoutthepromisedTamilEelamand

withaprovinceinsteadofanation,alienatednotjusttheTamils—whosecauseDelhiclaimeditwasespousing—buttheSriLankanmajoritarianpolityaswell.TheovertIndianmilitaryinterventiononlyservedtoreinforcethesuspicionsofanalreadywarySinhalacommunitythatIndiawasnottheretoplayhonestbroker,butwaspreparingtomidwifeadefactoTamilstate.Today,India–SriLankarelationsarepickingupafternearlyfortyyearsof

mutualsuspicionfuelledbyoneself-inflictedwoundafteranother.ButevensixyearsaftertheLTTEwasannihilatedbytheMahindaRajapaksagovernmentinMay2009,ColombowasunabletofullyembraceDelhi,atleastnotuntilthepresentgovernment’snewpowertrio—PresidentMaithripalaSirisena,PrimeMinisterRanilWickremesingheandformerPresidentChandrikaBandaranaikeKumaratunga—recognizedtheperilsofnothavingIndiafighttheircorner,especiallywhentheywerefacinganinternationalcommunitymorethanreadytotrythemforwarcrimes.Butintheearly1980s,insiderssay,IndiraGandhi,astutetacticianthatshe

was,lettheSriLankangovernmentknowthatsheopposedtheirantitheticalstancetowardstheTamilsandthatshewasmorethanreadytoinvadeethnicallydividedSriLankainAugust1984,iftheneedarose.ThesmallarmyofTamilmilitantsathomewasherfallback,theweaponthatshewouldunleashwhenthetimewasright,justasshehaddonewiththeMuktiBahiniinBangladesh.Theparallels—sofarastheprovocationforsuchastrikeisconcerned—

betweenBangladeshandSriLankaweretellinglysimilar.In1971,amillionormoreBengalisofPakistaninationality,hadescapedthegenocidalPakistaniarmyandtakenrefugeinIndia,clearingthewayforMrsGandhitoinvadethenEastPakistanandrestoreittotheBengalis.Similarly,followingtheanti-Tamilpogromof1983thatragedonuntil1985,

thousandsofSriLankanTamilsabandonedtheirhomesinthenorthandeastofthedeeplydividedisland,crossedthe18-kilometrestretchofthePalkStraitinricketyboatsandfloodedintoTamilNaduwheretheyweresettledinrefugeecampsallalongthecoast.Theywereclamouringforjustice,forrestitution.ThethenTamilNaduchiefminister,Ramachandran,andOppositionDMKleaderKarunanidhiwerebeingpressedbyIndianTamilstosavetheJaffnaTamils.

ButtherewerecrucialdifferencesbetweenthissituationandthatofEastPakistan.TheMuktiBahinihadnorivalBengaligroupstocompeteforIndia’saffections.AndunliketheTamilTigers,theEastPakistanisweretruepartnerswhowenttowararminarmwiththeIndianArmy.Secondly,theBengaliswerebeinggivenanation;theTamilsweretoldtheyhadtobecontentwithatruncatedprovince—thenorthwithouttheeast.Indeed,RajivGandhineverwantedtheTigerstobecomethesolevoiceoftheLankanTamilsandhadalwaysplannedtogivegroupsliketheTamilUnitedLiberationFront(TULF)andtheEPRLFanequalsay.Colombo’schargewasthatIndianinterventionismwasanalltoorealthreat,in

keepingwithapatternofintercessionsintheneighbourhood,whichbeganwithEastPakistanin1971andwasfollowedbythetakeoverofSikkimin1975.This,theyfelt,becamearealitywhenRajivGandhiusedtheployof‘Tamilsinperil’tosendtroopsintoSriLankain1987.WhetherornotIndiagenuinelybelieveditcouldsolvetheSinhala–Tamil

impasseorwassuckedintoatrapsetbySriLankanPresidentJayewardene,fewbelievetodaythatIndianbootslandedonLankansoilsolelyattheexpressinvitationofthePresidentoftheislandnationasJ.N.Dixit,RajivGandhi’spointmaninColombo,claims,bothinhisbooksIndia’sForeignPolicy1andAssignmentColombo,2andinmanyinterviewsabouttheconversationbetweenthetwoleadershehadbeenprivyto.Except,militaryescalation,especiallywhenthefirepowerisforeign,comes

withitsownbaggage.Theresultsareneverwhatyoubargainedfor.Theforeigner,inthiscase,theIndianArmy—andPrimeMinisterRajivGandhi—were,unfortunately,tarredasthebarbariansatthegate.CouldDixit,mentorandguidetosomanyjournalists,includingmyself,have

beentryingtobeeconomicalwiththetruthonthereasonsbehindRajivGandhi’sdecisiontosendtroopsintoSriLanka?TheaccusationthatIndiawastrainingandarmingmilitantswasn’ttoofaroff

themark.SriLankancommentatorRohanGunaratnainhissearingbookIndianInterventioninSriLanka,3publishedbytheSouthAsianNetworkonConflictResearch,statesthatasmanyas10,000TamilinsurgentswerebeingtrainedbyIndiainthirty-oddtrainingcampsacrossTamilNaduandinthefoothillsoftheHimalayas.Hebacksupthechargewithpictorialevidence.Thishasofcourse

neverbeenacknowledgedbytheIndiangovernment,asthetrainingwasallegedlyconductedbyservicemenrecruitedbythecovertRAW,andnotthearmyperse,givingallactorsplausibledeniability.ApartfromtheLTTE,fiveothermilitantgroupswerecreatedandgivenarms,

trainingandfunding.TheseincludedtheTELOledbySriSabaratnamwhowasfullybackedbyKarunanidhi’sDMK,thePLOTE,theEelamRevolutionaryOrganizationofStudents(EROS),theEPRLFandtheprecursortoallthesegroups,theTELA.India’sabruptscrappingofitscovertpolicyofsupportingTamilseparatists

whenRajivGandhibecameprimeministercausedtremendousheartburnandangeramongtheLankanTamilcommunity.SmugglingofweaponsintoJaffnacametoahaltasthecoastguardsteppeduppatrollingsoonafterRajivGandhiwastoldthatanaircraftcarryingweaponsboundforSriLanka’sTamil-heldnorthhadbeendetainedatMadrasairport.ButRajivGandhi’sSriLankapolicy,craftedattheheightoftheColdWar,

wasseenbyhimandhisnewteamofadvisersaspragmatic,equitableandastheneedofthehour,evenifitultimatelyprovedtobeimpracticalandunenforceable.India’sstrategicinterestswereasmuchanissueforRajivGandhiastheywereforhismotherandpredecessor,butitwasoverlaidinhiscasebyawell-meaningintenttostartwithacleanslate.MrsGandhi’sfondnessforformerpremierSirimavoBandaranaikeandthe

mutualhostilitybetweenherandBandaranaike’ssuccessor,theSriLankanPresidentJayewardene,weretheothermitigatingfactorsbehindthetoughlineshetookonSriLanka’sactionsagainstitsTamilminority.ButthecriticalfactorinMrsGandhi’scasemayhavebeenIndianintelligenceagenciesreportingthattheUSwaspushingforabaseinTrincomaleeport,andsettingupapowerfultransmitterforitsVoiceofAmericaradiostationintheeasternportcitythatwouldenableittosnooponIndia.WhileitwasanopensecretthatDelhihadbeenplayingfootsiewithTamil

militantssince1981,Colombo’sgrowingclosenesstotheUS,IsraelandPakistanduringthatperiodrequiredaplantopullthestrategicallypositionedislandbackintoitssphereofinfluence.Gen.VernonWaltersoftheUS,duringhisdiplomaticforaysintoSriLankain

1983–84,muddiedthewatersconsiderablywithhisattempttoco-optColombo

byreportedlyofferingIsraelitrainingandarmstotheSriLankanarmedforcesasaquidproquoforintelligenceonIndia’sTamilassets.Britishmercenaries,underthecoverofaprivatesecurityfirm,theoddlynamedKeenieMeenieServices—‘snakeinthegrass’inSwahili—werealsoactiveontheeastcoast.MrsGandhiwasequallyconcernedthattheUS’ColdWarally,arch-rival

Pakistan,wassimilarly—muchbeforetheChinesestringofpearlsstrategytoencircleIndia—buildingbridgeswiththeSriLankans,withmanyofitstopofficerstrainingitsarmy.AttheheightoftheBangladeshwarin1971,ColombohadalienatedIndiabygivingPakistan’sairforcepermissiontorefuelitsaircraftanduseitsairfields,whenIndiahadclosedoffitsairspacetoPakistan’scivilianandmilitaryaircraft.WhenRajivGandhibecameprimeminister,therevolvingdoorinhisforeign

policycellalsosawtheexitofoneseasonedexpertafteranotherwhohadbeenhandlingColombo,includingG.Parthasarathy(senior)andA.P.Venkateswaran,andtheentryofNatwarSinghandP.ChidambaramaswellasArunNehruandArunSingh—thelasttwowereunfamiliarwithrealpolitik.ThishappenedevenasTamilNaduChiefMinisterRamachandrankeptlinesopenwiththeLankanTamilgroupsthathenurturedinthestate.MuchbeforeRajivGandhibecameawareoftheSriLankangovernment’s

persistentfoot-draggingoverreachinganagreementwiththeTamils,hehadquicklycomeroundtothebeliefthatcontinuingsupportforTamilseparatistswasnolongermorallytenable.Pakistan’smilitaryestablishmentwasstillsmartingfromthehumiliatingdefeatitsufferedatthehandsoftheIndianArmyin1971whenitsurrenderedand90,000ofitssoldiersweretakenprisoner.IslamabadwaslookingtosettlescoreswithIndia.WithPakistanreadyingplanstoactivelyfomentandsupportaseparatist

insurgencyinJammuandKashmir,anymovebyIndiatopropupamilitantmovementwouldbeusedbyIslamabadasammunitioninitsstepped-upcampaigntoseparateKashmirfromtheIndianUnionaspaybackforIndia’svivisectionofPakistan.RajivGandhiwasofthefirmbeliefthatIndiawouldhavenolocusstandioverJammuandKashmirifitwasseenasbackingaclaimtoaseparatestatebySriLankanrebelswhomitsupportedandfunded.Equallyimportant,hewantedtoend,onceandforall,thepipedreamofa

TamilDesamthatwasbeingactivelypromotedbyIndia’scannyTamil

politicianswhoatthetime(muchastheydotoday)usedtheplightoftheSriLankanTamilstoweakenhisCongressparty.Thepan-TamilstatewouldbringtogetherTamilNaduontheIndianmainland,

theTamil‘homeland’inSriLanka’snorthandeast,andpartsofMalaysiaandSingaporeinSouthEastAsia,whereasizeableTamil-speakingpopulationresided.InsendingIndiantroopstoSriLanka,therefore,RajivGandhiwassignallingunequivocallythatIndiawouldnolongerbacktheTamilinsurgentsintheirquesttocreateanindependent‘GreaterEelam’.Whathehadn’tbeenabletodowasconvinceColombothatIndiahadnointentionoftakingovernorthernSriLankaasapreludetocreatingaseparatestatefortheTamils,andthatthe‘interference’ofsendingintheIPKFwasonlytoensurethatTamilswerenotpersecutedthereafter.RajivGandhiwantedtobeseenasa‘guarantor’ofpeaceandnotasaninvader,ortheheadofanarmyofoccupation.RajivGandhi’sSriLankapolicy—areversalofMrsGandhi’smilitaristicline

—wasinkeepingwiththerejectionofmanyofIndiraGandhi’sotherpolicies,demonstratedbytheRajivGandhi–LongowalaccordinPunjabandtheAssamaccord.InApril1987,withBoforscastingashadowoverhisprimeministership,formerdiplomatAmbassadorK.C.Singhsaysthecommonlyheldview,asthescamblewupinRajivGandhi’sface,wasthathewasprobablylookingforaforeignpolicysuccessthatwouldtakeattentionawayfromthecontroversialhowitzerdeal.‘TheIndo-SriLankanaccordthatRajivGandhipushedtheSriLankanPresidentintoagreeingto,wasgoingtobeit,’saysSingh.RajivGandhi,temperamentallydifferentfromhismother,didnotwanttogo

downinhistoryasbeingpoliticallyincorrectandashavingmeddledintheaffairsofanothernation.HisadvisersmayevenhaveputitaboutthatforgingpeacewithSriLankaafteraslewofaccordswithinsurgentsathomecouldwinhimtheNobelPeacePrize,alongsideSriLankanPresidentJayewardene.

RajivGandhi’sBidtoSolvetheEthnicImpasse

ThereisnodoubtthatsolvingtheethnicimpasseinSriLankawasamajorchallengefortheyoungprimeminister,facedwithmultipleforeignpolicycrises.

In1984,theLTTEhadnotyetbecometheformidableguerrillaforcethatitwouldeventuallygrowinto.Indeed,itwasjustoneofmanythatIndiahadinplay.Itschief,Prabhakaran,befriendedbyTamilNaduleadersliketheiconicMGR,withwhomhesharedethniclinkages(theirfatherscamefromKerala,India,andtookupworkinSriLanka’splantations),wastheonlyTamilinsurgentleaderwhomadenosecretofhisreservationsabouttheaccord.FlowntoDelhiinJuly1987,andkeptincommunicadoinaroomatAshok

Hoteluntilheagreedtogoalongwiththeaccord(hehadsatonitforalmosttwohours,afterwhichitwastranslatedfromEnglishtoLankanTamil),hefinallyextractedaverbalpromiseofmonetaryhelpforhiscadresfromRajivGandhiwhentheymetlatethatnight,andbelievedthatofalltheTamilgroupssupportedbyDelhi,hewastheonewhowouldbegiventheleadroleintheNorthernandEasternprovinces.ButPrabhakaranmusthaveknownthathehadnothingonpaper.Ill-advisedly,

hewasallowedaccesstoatelephone.InaphonecalltoTamilNadupoliticianVaiko,Prabhakarangaveventtohis

fearswhenhesaid,‘Wehavebeenbetrayed.’Aphrasethathewouldraiseatthefirstpublicrallyheeveraddressed,onhisreturntoJaffnainAugust1987,andagainandagainoverthenextfewweeksandmonths,whippingupemotionsuntilhewenttowarwiththeIPKF.PrabhakaranhadduginhisheelsovertalkingtoColombo,resistingthe

pressuretoagreetoanegotiatedpeacesettlementwhenhehadbeenflowntotheSAARCsummitinBangalorein1986.ItwasinBangalorethatthenewlyelectedIndianprimeministerfirstsharedwithSriLankanPresidentJayewardenehisconcernsovertheescalatingethnicviolenceinSriLankaandthedifficultiesposedinhostingarmedTamilmilitantsonIndiansoil.ButJayewardenereportedlydidnotplayalongandwasopenlycriticalofIndiaattheSAARCmeet.ThisdeeplyupsetRajivGandhi’sadvisers,possiblyforcingtheIndianleader’s

handonpushingJayewardeneintoagreeingtothebroadcontoursofanagreementthat,atonelevel,servedColombo’spurposeasitbroughtIndiaintotackletheTamilinsurgentstheyhadnurtured,whileensuringthatIndiacouldnotbackTamilterroroutfits.RajivGandhibelievedthatatleastonpaper,hehad

avictoryastheaccordmadeitincumbentontheSriLankanleadershiptogivetheTamilsastatuswithinasovereign,unitedSriLanka.However,asaformerdiplomatsaid,RajivGandhiwasalsobeingcautioned

byhisTamilalliesandhismilitaryandintelligenceadvisersagainstallowingJaffnatofalltotheSriLankaArmy.ItwouldtakeawayoneofIndia’sfewbargainingchips—controlofJaffna—andscuppertherehabilitationofTamilswhowereresentfulofbeingtreatedlikesecond-classcitizensintheirowncountry,thegrudgethatwasattheheartoftheinsurgency.Infact,duringOperationLiberationinMay1987,SriLankanforceshadalreadycapturedtheLTTEnervecentreofVadamarachchiandwerewithinaheartbeatoftakingJaffna.TheparadoxwasthatwithouttheTiger‘gun’beingheldtotheirhead,

ColombowouldhavenothavebroughttherealpowerbehindtheTamilinsurgents,thelumberingIndianelephant,intotheroom.Equally,inconcedingonanintervention,RajivcededtheupperhandtoColomboandboxedhimselfintoacorner.HecouldnolongerdeliveronthepromiseshehadmadetoPrabhakaranwhohadseriousmisgivingsabouttheaccord,particularlythecallforareferendumontheEasternProvince,thatwasnothingmore,hebelieved,thanaploytodividethenorthandtheeast.Prabhakaranhadnointentionofrevisitingthemergerofthenorthandeast,

callingitafaitaccompli.ThedeliberateresettlementbyColombooftheSinhalese-speakingsoutherners

intheEasternProvince,withthearmedforcesbringingintheirfamiliesandmovingintohomesintheareaonceoccupiedbyTamils,hadleftthereturningTamilpopulationwithoutaroofovertheirheadintheirtraditionalhomeland.Prabhakaranbelievedthereferendumwasanintentionalmovetochangethedemographicsandreversetheunificationofthenorthandtheeast.IninterviewstovariouspublicationsinAugust1987,aftertheIndianArmy

hadflownhimfromIndiatoJaffnaaheadofapublicsurrenderofarmsplannedforearlyOctober,Prabhakaransaidasmuch.‘Havingfoughtsomuch,havingsacrificedsomanylivesandhavinglost20,000people,allthishasbeensubordinatedtoIndia’sstrategicinterests.Notonlythat,we,therepresentativesofsuchmartyrs,havenotbeenproperlyrespected.Hence,inthiskindofsituationduringtheinterimarrangement...wefeelthatwewanttodemonstrate

totheGovernmentofIndiathesupportwehavefromthepeople.Indiahasnotgivenusourdue.‘Withoutconsultingus,theyhavearrivedatanagreement.Hence,wewould

liketoenterpoliticswiththepeople’ssupportandwiththegoalofTamilEelam.Thatwillbethefittingreply.’InthesameinterviewtoanIndianpublication,Prabhakaranwasaskedwhat

RajivGandhi’sresponsewaswhentheLTTEsupremoraisedtheissueoftheremovalofthe200SriLankanarmycampsthathadbeensetupacrossTrincomaleeandBatticaloa.‘Weopposetheagreementonthispoint.Nobodywaspreparedtoconsiderit,’hesaid.InDelhi,theinterviewerasked.‘Yes,inDelhi,’repliedPrabhakaran.InforcingPrabhakarantoreturntoJaffna,Indiaalsofailedtofactorinthatthe

militantleader,forthefirsttimesincehehadtakenuparms,washavingtoresolvetheday-to-dayproblemsofthepeoplewhosecausehewasclaimingtoespouse.HundredsofLankanTamilscouldnotreturntotheirownhomesthathadbeencommandeeredbytheSriLankansettlersfromthesouth,andtheonlypersonhecouldblamethisonwastheIndianprimeminister.Ashetoldtheinterviewer:‘MrRajivGandhigavetheassurancethatwe,the

Tamilpeople,willbeprotectedinthenorthandtheeast.Butpeoplearenotabletoreturntotheeast...TheIndianArmyhasgonetherebuttheTamilpeoplearenotabletogothere—becausethereisanincreasingoppositionfromtheSinhaleseHomeGuardsandtheSinhalesepeople.Therearearmycampsthereinindividualhouses,schoolsandcooperativestores.ButtheIndianArmyhasnotbeendeployedinsuchplaces.TheCeylonArmyhasnotbeenevacuated,theproblemhasnotbeensolved.Anotherthingisthepeople’slackoffaitharisingoutofthenon-removaloftheCeylonArmy.EveniftheIndianArmygoes,occupiessuchplacesandlatervacates,theSinhalaarmywillcomeback.Further,wewouldn’thavearms.’Infact,theforcedsurrenderofarmswouldblowupinIndia’sface.AnLTTE

representativetoldTamilnewspaperUthayaninJaffnathattheorganizationwouldnotsurrendertheirarms.PrabhakaranreconfirmeditinseveralinterviewstoIndiannewspapers,includingIndianExpressandFrontline.‘Yes,wemadethestatement.Itisbettertofightanddiethansurrendertheweaponsinaninsecureenvironmentanddieonamassscale.’

TheideaofsendingtroopsintoSriLankamayhavebeenraisedbytheSriLankanPresidentfirst.ButlulledintoafalsesenseofconfidencebyRajivGandhi’sassurancesthatIndiawouldnotbetrayTamilinterests,ittookseveralweeksbeforeitfinallydawnedontheLTTEthatIndiahadturneditsbackonthem.TheotherTamilseparatistswerefarmoreacceptingofthenewrealityinthe

hopethatitwouldbetheirturntobeatthereceivingendofRAWlargesseinthenearfuture.However,fortheLTTE,intheforefrontofthebattleforEelam,theirverysurvivalwasatstake.Caughtonthewrongfoot,Prabhakaranandhiscadreswhoknewnootherlanguagebutconfrontationandwar,retaliatedtheonlywaytheyknewhow.IfRajivGandhiistobeblamed,itshouldbeforhispoliticalnaivetyandfor

notheedingtheadviceofhisoutspokenandhighlyrespectedForeignSecretaryA.P.Venkateswaran.VenkateswaranmadenosecretofhismisgivingsoversendingIndiantroops

intoSriLanka,sayinginpublicthatIndia’sdecisiontosendtheIPKFtoSriLankawasamistake.HewasdismissedbyRajivGandhiduringapressconferenceinJune1987.Foreignministryofficialswhoservedatthetimesaythatthemomentous

decisionRajivGandhitook,withoutconsideringhismoreseasonedadvisers’concerns,wasfraughtwithrisk.ItwasmadeworsewhentherewasnoattempttoseeksomekindofaccommodationwiththeTamilinsurgentsbyofferingamiddlepath,aface-saverthatwouldgivetheproudTamilprimacyinanewarrangement,byholdingoutthepromiseofastatesometimeinthefuture,howevernegligibletheprospectofthatevercomingtofruition.Instead,criticssay,hecutthemostvirulent—andpotentiallythemostdeadly

—oftheinsurgentgroups,theLTTE,outcompletely,seeingthemasnodifferentfromtheclutchofotherTamilseparatiststhatIndiahadproppedup.OpentothehighlymanipulativesuggestionofafarmoreadeptpoliticianintheSriLankanPresident,RajivGandhifailedtoexaminetheimplicationsandthefalloutofsendingsoldiersintounfamiliarterrain.Theywere,inthefinalanalysis,beingsenttodoajobthatshouldhaverightfullybeenthatoftheSriLankanarmy.RajivGandhi’sstatementinParliament,adayaftertheaccordwassigned,

soughttojustifythedeploymenttohisdomesticaudienceaswellastothe

internationalcommunity.SomeoneshouldhavetoldhimthatitwouldwinhimnoplauditseitherintheSinhalaortheTamilcamp.Inhisownmind,itseemslikelyhehadcometounderstandthatthetroops

weregoinginaspartofanagreementwiththeSriLankangovernment,andthatitwasaimedatdisarmingtheTamilmilitants,withthefinalgoalbeingthedevolutionofpowerstoaTamil-empoweredcouncilinthenorthandtheeast.InhisannouncementinParliamenton30July1987,hesaid:

PresidentJayewardeneexplainedthatbecauseofthedeterioratingsituationasaresultof[these]disturbancesandtheincreasingdemandsthatthisputsontheSriLankansecurityforces,hisgovernmentwouldneedassistancetoimplementtheIndo-SriLankaAgreementforendingtheethniccrisis.ForthispurposetheGovernmentofSriLankamadeaformalrequestforappropriateIndianmilitaryassistancetoensurethecessationofhostilitiesandsurrenderofarmsintheJaffnaPeninsula,andifrequired,theEasternProvince...HealsorequestedforairtransporttomovesomeoftheSriLankantroopsfromJaffnatopointsin

thesouth.InresponsetothisformalrequestfromGovernmentofSriLanka,andintermsofourobligationsundertheIndo-SriLankaAgreement,unitsoftheArmedForcesofIndiahavelandedintheJaffnaPeninsulatoday[30July1987].LetmerepeatthatourtroopshavelandedinSriLankainresponsetoaspecificandformalrequest

oftheGovernmentofSriLankawhohaveinvokedourobligationsandcommitmentsundertheIndo-SriLankaAgreement...

AsDixit,thenIndianhighcommissionertoSriLanka,saidinaninterviewtoRediff’sJosyJosephin2000,tenyearsaftertheIPKFwithdrewfromtheisland,theideaofIndianbootsonthegroundwasJayewardene’sidea.WhetherhewastryingtoshifttheblamefromRajivGandhi,onewillneverknow.ButhesaidtheideaofflyinginIndiantroopswas‘aseparatematter’fromtheaccorditself,repeatedlystressingthatitwasnotRajivGandhi’sidea.TheSriLankanPresident,hesaid,hadpushedRajivGandhitobringintroopstodisarmtheLTTE,ashewantedtofreetheSriLankaArmytoquellabloodySinhalainsurgencyledbytheJanataVimuktaPerumana(JVP)inthesouth.‘PresidentJayewardenewantedtowithdrawhistroopsfromJaffnatocontrol

theriotsinthesouth.Anditwashewhosaid,“IwantsomeIndiantroopstocomeintoensuresecurityinJaffnaandTrincomalee,becauseIamwithdrawingmySinhalesetroopstomaintainlawandorderhere,”’Dixitrecounted.‘AndMrRajivGandhi—Iwaspresent—said,“Areyousureyouwantour

troops?BecauseIndiacanbecriticised,SriLankacanbecriticised.”He[Jayewardene]said,“Iamgoingtogiveyouaformalwritteninvitation.”Mr

Gandhisaid,“Letusfirstsigntheagreement,andtheninyourletter,ifyouthinkitisnecessary,yousaytoensuretheefficientimplementationoftheagreementyouwantthetroops.”Soitwasaseparatematter,’Dixitsays.Dixit’saccountofwhatactuallytranspiredbetweenthetwoleadersatthe

signingoftheIndia–SriLankapeaceaccordunderlinedtheIndianleader’singenuousnessandinexperienceindealingwithColombo.ColTaylor(Retd)whoservedwiththeIPKFwritesinRediff.comofhow

LTTEcadreshelatermettoldhim:‘Thecunningoldfoxfooledtheinnocentlamb.’Noprizesforguessingwhothelambwasandwho,thefox.WhatthatmeantinrealtermswasthatIndiahadbeencleverlymanoeuvred

intodoingthejobthatshouldhavebeenentrustedtotheSriLankaArmy.TheunpleasanttaskofdefangingtherebelswhomIndiahadarmedinthefirstplacewouldnowfalltoIndiantroops.RajivGandhiwasnotprescientenoughtoforeseehowunwelcomethiswouldmakeIndiantroops,howthetermsofengagementwouldchangefortheworseandhowcatastrophictheconsequenceswouldbe.TheprimarychallengebeforetheIndiantroopswasdisarmamentasaprelude

totheelections.UnlesstheLTTEvoluntarilysurrenderedtheirweaponsorwereforciblydisarmedbyIndiantroops,electionstothenewlyannouncedprovincialcouncilscouldnottakeplace.Ineffect,withtheLTTEcreatingaclimateofviolence,avoluntarysurrenderoftheirweaponswasnotfeasible;neitherwasdisarmamentnorwereprovincialpolls.OneformersoldierwhoservedintheIPKFanddidnotwanttobenamed,

recountsthefarcicaldisarmament.HesaidthatwhentheorderwentouttotheTamilseparatiststodisarm,theyweretoldtoputalltheirfirearmsandequipmentintheJaffnaFootballStadium.Pitsweredugand,overseveraldaysuntil21August1987,arms,mostofthemold,damagedandunusable,werebroughtinandburied.ButinanindicationofhowlittleIndiaunderstoodwhatitwasupagainst,thearmssurrenderstoppedwithoutwarning,andwhentheIPKFwenttocheckwhetherthestashwasstillintact,theyfoundvast,emptypits.Thestorydoingtheroundsthen,theformersoldiersaid,wasthatwiththeLTTEsuspiciousofIndianintenttodisarmtheTigersandarmrivalTamilgroups,theoutfitdecidedtohijackalltheweaponsandredistributethemamongtheirowncadres.

WhatIndiahaddonewastradeinIndiraGandhi’shard-nosedrealpolitik-drivenarmingofTamilinsurgentsthatbeganin1977andwentontill1985—ayearaftershedied—forRajivGandhi’shalf-baked,midstreamchangeofplanthatwentfromattemptingtodivesttheLTTEandotherTamilguerrillasoftheirfirepower—whichwasachallengeinitself—towagingafull-fledgedwaragainsttheTigers.MrsGandhi’sstrategytowardsSriLankawashonedthroughtheColdWar

yearswhentheUSremainedinimicaltoIndianinterests,allyingitselfwithPakistan.WithSriLankalocatedstrategicallyatIndia’sunderbelly,PresidentJayewardene’sincreasinglystrongrelationshipwithPakistan,theUSandIsraelwasseenasastrategicthreatthathadtobecountered.ThiswasdrivenhomeastheBritishbroughtinhiredmercenariesofvariousnationalitiesundertheKeenieMeeniegrouptohelptraintheSriLankanTaskForcetoquelltherebelsintheeast.Theriskposedbythesecession-pronestateofTamilNaduwasalsoalltoo

real.TamilNaduhadabout60millionTamil-speakingIndianswhoheldDelhitoaccountfornotspeakingoutoractingtoalleviatetheatrocitiesandmarginalizationoftheSriLankanTamilsatthehandsoftheSinhalesemajority.MrsGandhiwasrepeatedlyaskedbyherTamilallieswhyshehadgonetowar

onbehalfoftheBengalisbutwouldnotdothesamefortheTamils.RajivGandhi’sLankanmisadventure,hisapologistssay,washisbidtocarry

forwardhismother’splanstotheirlogicalconclusion,bysendingtroopstotheislandtosafeguardLankanTamilinterests;exceptthatinMrsGandhi’scase,sheusedtheTamilgroupstoheradvantage—theprovisionalfifthcolumnthatcouldbeusedagainstColombo,ifneeded.Thatwasn’tevenapartofRajivGandhi’scalculations.Andhecapitulated,eventhoughheheldallthecards,saidacolonelwhohadservedintheIPKF.TheIndianArmedForcesatthetimewerefarsuperiortotheSriLankaArmy,andtheLTTEcouldhaveremainedausefulpawnifIndiahadkeptPrabhakaran’shopesofaseparatestatealive.Instead,Indiarushedinpeace-keepingforcesthatsetoffanundeclaredwar.

Cominginastheydid,completelyunpreparedandill-equippedforthejobathand,theIPKFdeploymentsetthesealonpost-IndependenceIndia’sbiggestforeignpolicydisaster.Intheyearssince,Indianpolicymakershavevowednevertorepeatthemisadventure.

Ironically,theIndo-LankapeaceaccordpleasednobodyinColomboeither.SeniormembersoftheJayewardene-ledrulingUnitedNationalParty(UNP)werenotinfavourofit,norwastheOppositionSriLankaFreedomParty(SLFP),muchlessthevirulentlyanti-TamilJVPwhichhadsetofftheconflagrationbetweentheTamilsandtheSinhaleseinthefirstplace.The29JulyaccordthatclearedthedeploymentofIndiantroopsto‘enforce

thecessationofhostilities...’wouldunravelalmostassoonasitbecameoperational.TheJVP,whichhadbeenassiduouslyfanningSinhalaireatIndianinterferenceintheirinternalaffairs,stokedthefirstflames.Ontheverydaythatthedealwassigned,afailedattemptbyaSriLankan

navalratingtoassassinateRajivGandhi—managingtohithimwithhisriflebutt—infullviewofaguardofhonourasseniormembersofthegovernmentintheSriLankancapitalofColombowatched,indicatedthepopularmood.Itreflectedtheanger—whichunitedSinhalasandTamilsalike—andtheircollectiveantipathytothearrivalofforeigntroopsontheirsoil.InJaffna,theIndianpremier’sannouncementinParliamenton30Julythat

Indiantroopswerebeingair-droppedintoSriLanka,evenashespoke,wasparticularlypoorlyreceived.Onceknownforitsgenteelold-worldcharm,itsbookshops,itsvoluble

trishawdrivers,afameduniversityandalibrarythatwastherepositoryofancientTamilculture,Jaffnahadbythemid-1980sturnedintoahotbedofdivisive,bloodyTamilseparatistpolitics,markedbytheriseofahighlymotivatedgroupcommittedtocarvingoutaTamilhomeland.IndiantroopscominginwiththeexpressintenttodisarmtheLTTEinthe

northandtheeast,asapreludetosettingupaninterimcouncilandsupervisingelectionstoaprovincialbody,setoffalarmbellsintheterroroutfit.TheIndianArmy,sinceitdivestedPakistanin1971ofitsEastBengalwing—

atextbooksuccessstorythatistaughtinmilitaryschoolsacrosstheworld—hadaformidablereputation.Itbelieveditwouldbenopushover.EggedonbyDixit,theTigershadreluctantlybeenpersuadedtobeapartoftheinterimcouncilthatwouldrunthenewlymergedNorthernandEasternprovinces.But,forPrabhakaran’scadres,comparedbyanalyststothefanaticalandhighlymotivatedJapanesekamikazebombers,thiswasnottheprizetheysought.

TheIndianArmy,theIndianHighCommissionandRAWwereblindtothefactthatPrabhakaran’sfinalfrontierwasn’taninterimgovernment,letaloneaProvincialCouncil.Prabhakarandidn’twantaColombo-inspireddispensationthatwouldgrantTamilgroupsavoice.Hewantedtobethepre-eminentvoice,theonlyvoiceoftheTamilpeople,andhewanteditunderafullymilitarizedforceinaseparatestate,hisstate—Eelam.AfteryearsofexposuretoIndiantrainingcampsinTamilNadu,heknewthattheonlythingthatstoodbetweenhimandEelamwasRajivGandhiandhisforcemajeure,theIPKF.FortheJVP,thedeploymentoftheIPKFwasahugeandunexpectedbonus,a

boosttotheiragendatocurbTamilambitionsforaseparatestate.BannedfortheBlackJuly1983racialpogromagainsttheTamils—a

retaliationforthekillingofSriLankansoldiersandBuddhistmonks—theJVPanditsmilitaryarm,theDeshapremiJanathaViyaparaya,seizedtheopportunityprovidedbyJayewardene(whohadoncepromisedtofighttheIndianstothelastbulletbutendedupbefriendingtheminstead)tounleashavitrioliccampaignofhateagainstIndiaandtheirownPresidentfortheirso-calledplansto‘divide’theisland.TheaccordthatempoweredtheIndianArmytoensurepowerdevolvedtothe

northernandeasternTamilsenragedSinhalesesupremacistsasitwasseenasrewardingseparatistswhohadtakenuparmsagainstthestate.OnthemorningthattheIndo-SriLankaagreementwastobesigned,anangry

mobsurroundedthePresident’shomeinColombo;theyattackeditandsetitablaze.Intherun-uptotheaccordandafter,theJVPbeganpickingoutleadersinpredominantlySinhalavillages,bothCatholicandBuddhist.Theyweregivenachoice:theyhadtocomeovertotheirsideortheywouldbeassassinated.ThehugeoutcryfomentedbytheJVP—andtheSriLankaFreedomParty—

grewintoamassmovementagainst‘Indianimperialism’and‘Eelamterrorism’,whichbeganevenbeforethefirstIndiansoldierhadsetfootonLankansoil.Itwasn’thelpedbythefactthattwoseniorministersintheJayewardene-ledUNPgovernment,LalithAthulathmudaliandPremadasa(both,incidentally,laterassassinated),withoneeyeontheconservativeSinhalavote,weredeadsetagainstallowingevenalimitedmeasureofTamilautonomy.Bothleadersactivelysetouttosabotagetheaccord,whilePremadasawentontouseittounseatJayewardeneandassumepower.

WhenRajivGandhisteppeddownfrompowerinthefaceoftheBoforsstormin1989,thenewprimeministerV.P.SinghandhisforeignministerI.K.GujralsetouttoreversewhatRajivGandhihadtriedtodoinSriLanka.ButinwithdrawingIndiantroopsunderpressurefromSriLanka’sPresidentPremadasa,afurthercomplicationhadarisen.AspartofthesustainedcampaignbytheLTTEagainstthe‘foreignforce’,it

wasputoutbytheTigersthatonRAW’sadvice,RajivGandhihadrearmedotherinsurgentgroups,includingtheEPRLF,theENDLFandthePLOTE.Flauntingnewlyacquiredarms,yetineptatfightingtheLTTE,theybecameeasytargetsoftheLTTE’ssystematiceliminationofthegroups’leadersandcadres.Butinthecounter-narrativethattheIndiansdidlittletoplayup,theLTTEwas

alsoflauntingbrandnewweapons.TheIPKFofficersbelievedthearmscamefromthepoolofnewweaponsacquiredbytheSriLankaArmy—theyallhadSLAmarkings.TheLankanchargeagainstIndiawasthatithadarmedandtrained,andpittedonegroupofTamilsagainstanother,sothatoneoftheirproxieswouldbecomepowerful,andtheIndianArmy’schargeagainstPremadasawasthathehaddonethesamewiththeLTTE.AsColHariharanwhoservedasIndia’schiefofmilitaryintelligenceinSri

LankaduringtheIPKF’stenurefrom1987to1990explains,thiswaspartoftheLTTE’sstrategytoruntheIPKFoutofSriLanka.InsteadofthethreeyearsthattheIPKFhadbelieveditwouldtakethemto‘neutralize’theLTTE,theIndianArmyhadwithinthespaceoftwoyears‘wipedoutmostofthesixlevelsofjuniorTigerleaders’.ColHariharantoldmethedecimationoftheLTTEmid-levelcadresandthe

fearthathecouldgettotallywipedoutledPrabhakaranto‘runtoPremadasatogettheIPKFoutofthecountry’,andformabizarrealliancethatunitedtheLTTEandPremadasaagainstasharedenemy—theIPKF.PostersappearedinColombocallingtheIPKF‘InnocentPeopleKillingForce’.DoingbusinesswiththeLTTE,however,alwayscamewithaprice.InApril

1993,afterPremadasahadoutlivedhisusefulnesstotheTigers—andbarelyaweekafterhisfriend-turned-criticAthulathmudali,whohadsurvivedaterriblebombattackontheParliament,wasshotdeadbyagunmanwhoPremadasasworewassentbytheLTTE—hehimselfwouldbeblownupataMayDayrallybyanLTTEsuicidebomber.

India’sTamilcard,flawedasitwas,hadalreadygoneupinflames.ItsnewlyacquiredSinhalacardwasdoomedevenbeforetheinkhaddriedontheIndo-Lankapeaceaccord.

5TheRAWTruth

‘RAJIVGANDHIAVARUNDEMANDALAIADDIPODALAM.’‘Dumppannidungo.’BlowRajivGandhi’sheadoff.Eliminatehim.‘Maranaivechidungo.’Killhim.Ofthehundredsofinterceptsbetweenthethirty-eight-oddTamilinsurgent

campsintheNilgirisinIndiaandtheircohortsinJaffna,SriLanka,almosteverysingleonecentredonarmsshipmentsandgunrunningbetweenVedaranyamandPointPedro,barely18kilometresfromcoasttocoast.ButnointerceptwouldbeaschillingasthekillorderthatcamethroughinshortburstsofVHScommunicationonafrequencythattheLTTEfavoured,thatAprildayin1990.Whenitwasintercepted,itsetoffalarmbellsamongTamilinsurgentsranged

againsttheTigers,theirnumbersalreadywornthinbytheLTTE’stargetingoftheircadresandtopleadership.Theintercept,inOldTamilinterspersedwithEnglishusedbytheJaffnaTamils—andlargelyincomprehensibletoIndianTamils—onlyaddedtotheconfusionthathungoverthealltoobriefradiomessage.‘Dump’.ThatparticulartermcameintousewhentheLTTEbeganto

ruthlesslyeliminateTamilcivilianswhoresistedtheirfiatand‘dumped’theminpitsacrossJaffna.Itwasanotherwayofsaying‘kill’.Butthedifferencethistimewasthattheorderwasnottoeliminateoneoftheir

own.ThetargetwastheformerIndianprimeminister,theleaderofanothercountry.WhenPLOTEleaderSiddharthanDharmalingamfirstheardit,hewasso

alarmed,heimmediatelytippedofftheIPKF’scounter-intelligenceheadinSriLanka,ColHariharan.

AnativeTamilspeakerwithaninsidetrackintotheLankanTamilnarrative,ColHariharanwasgreatlyhelpedinhistask,hesays,byhavinganauntwhowasmarriedtoaJaffnanative.ItwasColHariharan,theheadofCounterIntelligence(COIN),andoneofahandfulofIndianoperativeswithhiseartothegroundandanunderstandingoftheTigers’mindset,whorecognizeditstrueimport.Butitdidn’tfly.Whetheritwasn’tspecificenoughorclearenoughtowarrant

immediateaction,orwassimplynottakenseriouslybytheintelligencemandarinstowhomtheinformationwaspassedon,isnotknown.Eitherway,India’sintelligenceagentswereclearlyunequaltothetaskofreadingthethreatforwhatitwas—adeathsentencepassedbytheLTTE,aninsurgentgroupnurturedbyIndia,onIndia’sformerpremier.‘EvenwhenRajivGandhiwasthePrimeMinister,theR&AWhaddrawn

attentiontothelikelihoodofathreattohissecurityfromtheSriLankanTamilextremistorganizations.ItrepeatedthiswarningafterhebecametheLeaderoftheOpposition,’saysB.Raman,headofRAWduring1988–94,inhiseye-poppingmemoir,TheKaoboysofR&AW.1‘Thesewarningsdidnotreceivetheattentiontheydeservedbecausetheywerebasedonassessmentsandnotonspecificintelligence,’hewrites.Except,thisparticularinterceptwasasspecificasitcouldget.Prabhakaran’s‘handler’whentheLTTEleaderwasinIndia,Chandran,is

pushingeighty-five,butrememberstheinterceptasclearlyasthoughitwereyesterday.Herecountshoweveryonemisreadthesignals—notjusthismen,butalsoagentsfromtheIBwhoweretaskedwithmonitoringthethreatposedbyLankanTamilsresidinginIndia,whohadtotrawlthroughhundredsofmessagesthatwentbackandforth.Chandran,additionalsecretaryintheCabinetSecretariatandinchargeof

RAWinSriLanka,wassidelinedoncetheRajivGandhigovernmentfell,andhisyearsofcultivatingtheTamilmilitantscametonought.‘Bythattime,thegovernmenthadchanged.Nobodywantedtohearwhatwe

hadtosayanyway.AndIhadbeenshuntedout,’hesaid.‘TheIBandRAWdidn’tagreeonmuch.Ifwehadreadthesignalsright,ifwe

understoodwhatwasgoingoninPrabhakaran’smind,whoknows,wecouldhavepreventedthis.Itwasourfault,wemadeahugeerrorofjudgement.We

misreadPrabhakaran.Weneverbelievedhewouldturnagainstusinthismanner.Weshouldhaveseenitcoming.Wedidn’t.WefailedRajivGandhi,wefailedtosavehislife,’hesaid,emotionalandclosetotearsashespoketomefromhisofficeinNewDelhi.Twenty-fiveyearslater,neitherSiddharthannorColHariharanremembers

morethanthisparticularpartoftheintercept.Butbothsaythatifithadbeentakenonboard,andactedonwiththeseriousnessthatsuchatip-offdeserved,historywouldhavetakenadifferentcourse.ItwasbroughttothenoticeofSiddharthan(nowaTamilNationalAlliance

MPinthenewlyelectedSriLankanParliament)byanalertJaffnaTamilinhisemploywhomonitoredradiocommunicationsbetweenTamilsontheIndianmainlandandJaffna.ThePLOTEleader,inturn,alertedColHariharanwhoservedinSriLankafrom3August1987toJune–July1990andwasreachingtheendofhistenure.Atthetime,theLTTEwasthepredominantforceintheRAW-runtraining

campsinIndia.ColHariharanwhoalsohadasmallarmyofJaffnaTamilskeepinganeyeontheLTTEforhim,sayshetoowastakenabackwhenhewasgiventhecassettetolistentoand,fromwhathiscode-breakerstoldhim,wasalarmedenoughtowarnIndia’sIBthataplotwasafoottoeliminateRajivGandhi.Thiswasafullyearbeforethesuicidebombblastclaimedtheformerprime

minister’slife.‘ItwasthefirsttimeweheardanymentionofPrabhakarantakingvengeance

againstRajivGandhi,’Siddharthansaid,quicklycorrectinghimselfafterhavingfirstusedtheword‘revenge’.Butthewarning—albeittenuousandimprecise—insteadofbeing

investigated,waslaughedoutofcourt;itwassimplysetasideandforgotten.Itwasn’ttheonlywarningthatwasn’tfullyinvestigated.Inhisbook,Raman

talksofanotheralert,thistimefromGermanintelligence,abouttherepeatedvisitsofaSriLankanTamilexplosivesexpertandanLTTEsympathizertoMadras.ButitwasnotsufficientlyprobedbytheIB.Instead,itignoredthewarningonthegroundsthattheLankanTamilwasn’tanexplosivesexpert,andremainedcuriouslyblindtothequestionofwhatthemanwasdoinginMadrasinthefirstplace.

In1990,LTTEhadtheupperhand.PLOTE’sfounderMaheswaranhadco-foundedtheLTTEwithPrabhakaranin1976.Butby1982,thetwohadfallenoutandalmostkilledeachotherinapublicshoot-outinMadras.MaheswaranwentontofoundPLOTEbutwasmurderedinbroaddaylightonaColombostreetin1989.PLOTEmadeeveryefforttostayonestepaheadofthemainpersonofinterest

atthetime—theirmainenemy,‘Baby’Subramaniam,theLTTEcommanderoperatingoutofTamilNadu.SubramaniamwastheLTTE’spointpersontoeliminateallchallengestoPrabhakaran.‘SubramaniamwasthedarlingoftheTamilNadupoliticiansandknewexactly

howtokeepRAWandeveryonehappywhiledoingexactlywhatPrabhakaranwantedhimtodo,’Siddharthantellsme.TheinterceptmayhavebeentoSubramaniamfromsomeonespeakingonPrabhakaran’sbehalf.TogetherwithotherLTTEleaders,liketheintelligencechiefPottuAmmanandthedeputyheadofthewomen’swing,Akila,SubramaniamwascloselyinvolvedwiththeplanningandexecutionoftheplottokillRajivGandhi.EventhoughtheIndianArmywasmakingtracksforhome,Prabhakaranwas

relentlesslywhippingupangeragainsttheIPKF,blamingthemforexcessesagainstcivilians.ThissingleburstofchattershouldhavealertedthethenV.PSinghgovernment

and,subsequently,theChandrashekhargovernmenttorestoretheZsecuritythatRajivGandhiusedtohavebeforehelosttheprimeministership.Oppositionleaderornot,hewasonthehitlistoftheKhalistanisandtheSikhs,andwarrantedmorethanthenegligiblecoverhehadbeenprovided.

RajivGandhiwastooproudtoaskforit,andhispoliticalopponentslackedthegenerosityofspirittogiveittohim.ThePLOTEalert—whichmayormaynothavechangedtheirthinking—did

notevenreachthePrimeMinister’sOffice.Infact,ColHariharansaidhehadhisknucklesrappedforraisingthealarmabouttheplottoassassinatetheformerprimeministereventhoughtheinterceptwasnothinglessthanPrabhakaranputtingahitonRajivGandhi.

‘Iwasaskedtosticktomybrief,’ColHariharantoldme.TheIPKFwasafterall,packinguptoleaveSriLanka,removingthemainsourceofthegrouseagainstRajivGandhi.‘Politically,wehadbecomeunwantedbaggageinbothColomboandNewDelhi;ourmandatewasfinished,wewereonourwayout.ButRAW,overconfidentofitsinfluenceovertheLTTE,failedtofactorinthatrevengewasalwaysonthecardswhenitcametoVP[VellupillaiPrabhakaran].’Raman,commentingontheLTTE’spoorcommunicationsecurityinhisbook,

bringsuptheIB’s‘betterinterceptioncapability’—whichgavethemtheabilitytolisteninontheTigers—versus‘R&AW’sbettercodebreakingcapability’,whiledrivinghomethelargerpointofhowlittletrusttherewasbetweenthevariousagenciesrunningIndia’sbiggestcovertoperation.HesaidthehugegapsleftintheintelligencegatheringontheTamilgroups,resultingfromhowlittleoneagencyknewaboutwhattheotherwasdoing,didenormousdamagetoIndia’sconductofitsSriLankapolicy.Morefatally,‘TheMonitoringDivisionfailedtodetecttheconspiracytokill

RajivGandhibeforethetragedytookplace,’saysRaman.‘Sharingofknowledgeofeachother’scapabilities—particularlyinrespectofintelligencecollection—andjointorco-ordinatedexploitationofthesecapabilitiesshouldbethenormifwehavetoavoidsuchsurprises,’writesRaman,unsparinginhiscriticismoftheagencies.Thecriticalintercept—aTamil-speakingLTTEoperativepassingontheorder

toeliminateRajivGandhi—washandedoverbyColHariharantohisoldfriendandIBadditionaldirectorinMadras,thelateK.Saranyan,withindaysofitsreceipt.‘Isentittohim,ratherthandefenceHQorarmyHQ,becauseourbriefinSri

Lankawasover,’ColHariharansaid.‘Wewerewindingupourinterceptionopsandwenolongerhadjurisdictionorresponsibility.SaranyanwasagoodfriendandIrespectedhim.ButhisassessmentwasthatLTTEwouldneverdoitbecausetheywereso“stupid”.Iremembermyresponsetohimatthattime:“MyresponsibilityisoverbutIwouldneverdiscountitjustbecausetheLTTEisstupid.”’ColHariharan,onhiswaytohisnewpostinginJammuandKashmir,never

askedtheIBofficialaboutitagain.That’swhathetoldtheSITwhenhewascalledinforquestioningafterSriperumbudur.‘Nobodytookitseriouslybecause

noonebelievedthatamanwhoowedeverythingtoIndiaandRajivGandhiwouldundertakeanoperationofthisscale,hisfanaticismandcommitmenttoEelamnotwithstanding,’Hariharantellsme.AsthelateRamanalsopointedoutinKaoboys:

WhenthereissuchanassessmentindicatingthelikelihoodofathreattoaVVIP,theintelligenceagenciesareexpectedtoinitiatespecificoperationsthroughtheirsourcesandthroughtechnicalmeanstolookforconcreteindicatorsofsuchathreat.Nosuchactionwastakenbecauseeverybodypresumed—disastrouslyasitturnedout—that,whiletheLTTEandotherSriLankanTamilorganisationsmightindulgeinactsofterrorismagainsteachotherinIndianterritory,theywouldnotindulgeinactsofterrorismagainstanyIndianleader.TheentirefocusoftheintelligencecoverageoftheLTTEwasonitsactivitiesinSriLanka,its

gunrunningetc.TherewasnospecificfocusonlikelythreatstoRajivGandhi’ssecurityfromit.

India’sintelligenceagenciescomprehensivelyfailedtopooltheirnotinconsiderableresourcesandworktogethertomanageandmonitorwhatwasitsmostambitiousandcertainlyitsbiggestclandestineoperationsincetheMuktiBahiniin1970–71.Ifproofwasrequired,oneneededtolooknofurtherthanthemolewithintheLTTEthatoneIndianintelligencewingnurturedandnooneoutsidethatcircle,nobodyinMIontheground,ortheIB,knewabout—Mahattaya,realnameGopalaswamyMahendrarajahfromPointPedro.ThemanwascultivatedandpositionedbyRAWastheirmoleinside

Prabhakaran’shithertoimpenetrableranksasearlyas1989,oneRAWoperative,requestinganonymity,tellsme.Hewouldbecometheirdeepasset,theonewhowouldsubverttheinsurgentmovementfromtheinside,andhadbeentaskedtoeliminatePrabhakaranandtakeovertheLTTE.HewasfirstnoticedbyColHariharanwithinmonthsoftheIPKF’stakeover

atthePalalyairbasein1987andaftertheinfamoussuicideofanLTTEsquadoftwelvemenearlyinOctober.‘Youtellthecolonelthatforthesetwelvedeadmen,theywillhavetocollect

thebodiesof1200deadIndiansoldiers.’ThiswasthepartingshotofthenewlyappointeddeputyheadoftheLTTE,Mahattaya,toHariharan,whenhecametocollectthebodiesoftwelveTamilTigers,includingthoseofPulendranand

Kumarappah,whohadcommittedsuicideon5October1987.TheyhadconsumedthecyanidecapsulesthatMahattayahadsecretlypassedontothem.FivemoreTigerswhohadbeendetainedalongwiththetwelveoffPalkStrait

bytheSriLankaNavywoulddielaterthatnight.AllseventeeningestedthecapsulesthatMahattayahaddispatchedtothem—inanengineeredtakingoftheirownlives—asthecapturedLTTEsquadwasbeingforcedtoboardaflighttoColombofromthePalalyairbase,guardedbyIndianandSriLankansoldiers.Mahattaya’soutburstwasprovokedwhenhearrivedinPalalywith

Prabhakaran’slawyer,Shankar,tocollectthebodiesfromtheSriLankaArmyandoverheardColHariharanwarningthelawyer,whomheknewpersonally,againstharbouringanythoughtsofgoingtowarwithIndia.Thecolonelrecountshowhetoldthelawyertotell‘Thambi’thatitwouldbea

badideatoturntheirgunsonIndia,andthattheyhadbeenfightingtheNagasforfortyyearsandhadthepowertogoonforever.‘YoutellThambinottodothis,’ColHariharansaid.Shankarsmiledandsaid,‘Imayagreewithyou;butwhoisgoingtotellThambi?’(ThambistandsforyoungerbrotherinTamilandisthemoniker,alongwith

Anna,orolderbrother,thatwasuniversallyusedforPrabhakaran).ThisiswhenMahattaya,whooverheardtheconversation,toldShankartotell

ColHariharaninanot-so-veiledcounter-threat,thattheIndianarmywouldhavetocollect1200bodiesforthetwelvedeadTamils.Mahattayahadearlierbeenill-advisedlyallowedbytheIndianArmytomeet

thesquad,whichiswhenhesecretlyhandedoverthecyanidetothem.AndIndia,inchargeoftheirsecurity,wouldbeblamedfortheirdeaths.ColHariharanrecountshowheandacomplementofIndiansoldierswere

forcedto‘watchdumblyastheSriLankansoldiersevenresortedtokickingthedeadLTTEcadres’.Protocoldictatedtheycouldnotinterfere.‘Iwasthere,presentatthesite,andwatchedastheychewedthecyanide

capsulesandimmediatelybeganfrothingatthemouth.TheyweredyingevenastheywerebeingloadedintotheSLAambulance,’hesaid,thefrustrationofthetimestillrankling,twenty-eightyearsaftertheevent.‘Weweregivenstrictinstructionstodonothing,tolayoff,’saidthecolonel.

‘WehadprovideddoctorstotheSriLankanmilitaryhospitaltoattendtothem.’ButthatwasallIndiawasallowedtodo.Makingmattersworsewasthe

relationshipbetweentheGOCLtGen.HarkiratSinghandHighCommissionerDixit.TheIndianArmycommander,citingmilitaryprotocol,refusedtotake

instructionsfromtheIndianhighcommissionerwhowantedtostoptheSriLankaArmyfromflyingtheLTTEmenout.ItwasthestartingpointforanepicfalloutbetweenLtGen.SinghandDixitthatwouldultimatelyendintheGOCbeingrecalled.Theinabilityofthetwomentoseeeye-to-eyeontacklingtheLTTEwasa

reflectionofalong-runningturfwarbetweenthemilitaryandcivilianestablishmentsthatcastadarkshadowoverIndiantroopdeploymentinSriLanka.ItmarredmilitaryengagementsandcomplicatedmattersevenfurtherforthedurationoftheIPKF’sdeploymentinSriLanka,andimpactedrelationsbetweenNewDelhiandColombo.‘Nothing’schanged,itcontinuestothisday,’saidViceAdmiral(Retd)P.J.

Jacob,speakingfromhisofficeinBengaluru.Asheadofthenavy’sSouthernCommand,itwasJacobwhooversawLTTEcommanderKittu’swaterygrave.ItwasanoperationwhichsetoffanothercontroversywhentheLTTEdiscoveredthatitwasMahattayawhohadtippedoffRAW,thathad,inturn,alertedtheIndianNavy.KittuwasoneofRAW’sfavourites;nurturedovertheyears,hewassaidtohavebeeninthepayoftheintelligenceoutfit.AsRAW’sChandranconfirmed,‘Hewasourman,hewasalwaysourman.’ColHariharanwhoquicklybecameawell-knownfaceinJaffnasays,

however,thatMIwas‘neverfullyintheloop’,evenastheyallbecamelarger-than-lifetargets.Hariharanandhisbrother,asurgeonwhohadtreatedtheLTTEcommanderKittuinMadrasafterabombattackblewoffoneofhislegs,boreastrikingresemblancetoeachother.TheLTTEleadersknewColHariharan’snameandface,andwhoandwhathestoodfor.Heknewhewasamarkedman.‘Theykeptanenlargedphotoofmeintheirbunkerstopotentiallyspotmeand,whoknows,takeapotshot.Theyevenshotdeadmyorderly!’Morethananything,thePalalyincidentdrovehomethepointthattheIndian

military,thecivilianintelligenceandthediplomatsworkedatcross-purposes,theonenotknowingwhattheotherdid.UnliketheBangladeshwarwhichwasplannedwiththethenprimeminister,

IndiraGandhi,andthemilitarychiefworkingintandem,thedeploymentof

IndiantroopsinSriLankawasadecisiontakenbyRajivGandhiandafewofhisadvisers,withouttherangeofconsultationswiththearmy,headedbytheflamboyantGeneralK.Sundarji,orMIthatwastheneedofthehour.AsDixitadmitsinhisbookAssignmentColombo,RajivGandhihadtriedto

persuadeJayewardenetodrophisxenophobicanti-Tamilattacksfornearlyfouryears.TheywentthroughnotonebuttworoundsoftalksatThimpu,Bhutan,butfinallydecidedtooverridebothsidesandpushtheIndo-SriLankaaccordthroughand,withthebestofintentions,sentIndiantroopstoenforcethedeal.TheIPKF’sinitialmovesagainsttheLTTEwerenaturallyandexpectedly

disastrous,basedastheywereonassessmentsofthegroundsituationfromthepoliticalclassandfromcivilianintelligencethatwerewrongfromtheverystart.‘RAWmayhavehadanumberofmoles,butinactualterms,VP[Vellupillai

Prabhakaran]wasanelusiveentityand,therefore,notaneasyread.Hewasautocratic,hewasunpredictable,hedidn’ttrustanyone,’saysthecolonel.‘Thearmywasnotprivytoinputsfromeithergovernmentorcivilian

intelligence;theywereunawarethatanIndo-SriLankaagreementwasevenbeingsigned.Thisishowgovernmentskeepthearmyoutofdecisionswhentheygotowar,’ruedColHariharan.ViceAdmiral(Retd)Jacobagrees,addingthatthewaragainstChinawas

conductedbyabureaucratintheministryofdefence.‘It’swhathappenedin1962;it’swhathappenedin1965;it’swhathappenedin1987.’Thecoloneladds:‘MyfriendinRAWwhowasputinchargeofSriLanka

operationstoldmethatthearmychiefGen.K.Sundarjiwasnotconsultedbeforethedecisionwasmadebytheprimeministertogoforthemilitaryoption.HesaidthedecisiontogotowarwasmadebyRajivGandhi,whogavedirectinstructionstothearmychieftosendtroopstoSriLankaontheadviceofhisinnercircle.’Thetruth,ofcourse,dependsonwhomyouaretalkingto.

Butthatwasnottheonlyweaklink.InOctober1987,totheembarrassmentoftheentireRAWtopbrass,theirmainmaninMadras,K.V.Unnikrishnan,wasoutedasaCIAmole.HehadbeenleakingsecretsonIndia’sclandestinefunding,

armingandtrainingofLankanTamilinsurgentgroups—whichthecountryhadneverpubliclyacknowledged—totheUS,whichinturn,hadbeensharingitwithColombo.Whenhewasarrestedandinterrogated,itwasdiscoveredthathehadalso

shareddetailsoffunds,theclandestinearmsshipments,allthesecrethideoutsonbothcoastsandthenamesofagentsandtheactualnegotiationswiththeTamilsforovereighteenmonths.ThiswasatthetimethatIndiaandSriLankawereworkingonRajivGandhi’sbrainchild,theIndo-SriLankapeaceaccord.RajivGandhi’semissaryP.ChidambaramwascontinuallytakenabackwhentheSriLankansseemedtoknowtheexactdetailsofwhathehaddiscussedwiththeTamilgroupswellinadvanceofeveryroundofnegotiations.TheThimpupeacetalkshadbeensimilarlycompromisedandweredoomedto

failspectacularly,owingtoUnnikrishnan’sleakofcriticalIndianstrategyandfallbackpositionstotheCIA,whichtheUSthenpassedontoColombo.TheUSmay,infact,haveluredUnnikrishnanintotheirnetlongbeforehe

wasouted.Unnikrishnan,whoservedintheColombomission,hadbeencompromisedwhentheCIAofficersetupahoneytrapwithaPanAmairhostessforthegullibleIndianagent.NodetailsofthearrestorthechargeswereevermadepublicasthiswouldhaveforcedIndiatocomecleanonthefactthatitwassupportingandnurturinganinsurgentgroup.WhilefeedingtheJayewardenegovernmentwithinformation,theCIAhad

IndiaconvinceditwasontopoftheLankancrisisalthoughitwascompletelyoffitsgame,withRAWunabletopersuadetheTamilprotégéstheyhadproppedupforsolongtodotheirbidding.DixitwritesinAssignmentColomboabouttheentryintotheColombotheatre

oftheCIA’sUSGen.VernonWaltersin1983asthenewambassadortoSriLanka.HedescribesWaltersasa‘ColdWarwarrior,aHenryKissingerwannabe’and‘thesubterraneanarchitectofmanyoftheanti-IndianaspectsofUSpoliciesonmattersofIndia’snationalsecurity’.Thequestionis,whatpromptedWashingtontothrowaspannerinIndia’s

works?Walters,feedingintotheSriLankanPresident’smarkedantipathytowardsthe

thenIndianpremierIndiraGandhi—afeelingsharedbytheUSadministration—aimedtocutSriLankaoutofIndia’ssphereofinfluencebyoffering

JayewardenearmssuppliesandintelligencefromIsrael,aswellasBritishmercenariesandPakistanimilitaryofficers,inreturnforbeingallowedtomaintainaVoiceofAmericabroadcastingstationinthestrategicportofTrincomaleeandthefacilitytosnooponIndia’sstrategicassets.Bythefollowingyear,Unnikrishnanhadhandedovertheexactlocationsof

thetrainingcampsandtheUShadsatellitephotographsattheready.AccordingtoDixit,Unnikrishnan‘toldhisinterlocutorsinNewDelhithatif

Indiakeptdenyingtheexistenceofsuchcampsanddidnotclosethemdown,theUSwouldreleasethesatellitephotographstothemediatoembarrasstheGovernmentofIndia’.MrsGandhi’sassassinationin1984wasperceivedbytheTamilsasablowto

theircause,andwithhersuccessor,RajivGandhi,castingasidethepro–Lankan-Tamilline,India’sintelligenceagencieslostwhatlittleclouttheyhadovertheinsurgents.Dixithimselfwassoontorunheadlongintocontroversy.JustaftertheIndian

ArmedForcestoucheddownonSriLankansoil,co-ordinationbetweenthearmy,militaryintelligenceandthehighcommission,whichwashithertointermittenttonon-existent,turnedcounter-productive.‘TheGOCGen.HarkiratSinghhadachiponhisshoulderaboutevenanMI

presenceintheirmidst;thiswasamaladythatafflictedmostIndiangeneralsinthosedaysbecausetheyneverunderstoodMI’sroleanddeployment,’ColHariharansays.Anobjectlessoninhowthingscouldspinoutofcontrolwithoutadequate

intelligenceonthegroundwastheJaffnaUniversitydebacleinOctober1987.RAWwasfedfalseinformationthatPrabhakaranwasholedoutintheJaffnaUniversityfootballground,whilehiscadreslayinwaitfortheIndianArmy.ColHariharancharacterizesthemovetonabPrabhakaran—bythrowingnotonebutthreedifferentgroupsofsoldiers,infantryandparastocapturehim—asamajoropfailure.‘MIwasnotevenconsultedbeforetheops.’Theworstwasyettocome.ThearmingofTamilinsurgents,whichthecolonel

hadlearntofin1984butwas‘askedtoshutup’about,raiseditsheadastheLTTEbegantousethosearmstoeliminatehundredsofIndia’sTamilprotégés,slaughteringLTTErivalsfromTELOandEPRLF.

‘WhenIdrewtheattentionoftheMIDirectorate,Iwasaskedtoprofferadviceonlywhenasked,andtoldthatinanycase,thearmywasnottrainingTamilmilitants,’hesaid.ButinanindicationofhowbackingoneTamilmilitantgroupwhilegoingto

warwithanotherwouldbackfireandblowupinIndia’sface,theLTTEbegantobuildbridgeswiththenewPremadasagovernmentwithonegoal—theIPKF’sexitfromtheWanni.ThiswasPrabhakaranathiswiliest,theclassicfeintofpretendingtoreachout

totheSinhalamajoritywhileusingthatasacovertoeliminatehisrivalsand,allthewhile,buyingtimetobuildhisownstatewithinastate.

Pullingthewoolovereveryone’seyes,theLTTEnumbertwo,Mahattaya,heldextensivepeacetalksinColombo.TheTigerinsurgentsevensignalledtheywerecommittedtofindingapoliticalsolutiontotheethnicimpassebyforminganLTTEpoliticalwing,thePeople’sFrontofLiberationTigers(PFLT)orMakkalMunnani,whichMahattayawasappointedtohead.Prabhakaran,themanwhobelievedviolencewastheanswertoallhis

problems,justifiedthemovetomendfenceswithSriLanka’sUNPbyspinningthefictionthatafterIndia’sbetrayal,theywouldgeta‘betterdeal’fromPremadasaandthussavetheTamilpeople.Inreality,allhewantedwastousePremadasawhosharedPrabhakaran’s

virulentantipathyagainst‘foreigntroops’—readIndia—toruntheIPKFoutofthecountry.Thefirstbenefitsaccruedprettyquickly—armedwiththeweaponssupplied

byPremadasaandtheinformationonIndiantroopmovementssharedbySriLankanintelligence,theTigerseffectedhugelossesinmenandmaterialontheIndianArmyintheWanniregion.‘WeknewVPwasintouchwithPremadasa,andthatPremadasahad

operativesoftheSriLankaArmyspyingonouropsandpassingtheinformationontotheLTTE.Idon’tknowwhetherNIB[theSriLankaintelligenceunit,NationalIntelligenceBureau]wasconductingit.Inanycasetheyweretapping

myphonewheneverIwenttoColombo.SoIknewthattheyknew,’ColHariharansays.

WhilethedistrustbetweenIndiaandPrabhakaranpersisted,areportthatappearedinTheHinduon24July1989,abouttwoyearsaftertheIPKF’sarrivalonLankanshores,headlined‘PrabhakaranReportedKilledinaShootout’wastheproverbialredragtotheLTTEbull.Onceagain,aswithallsecretops,andunbeknownsttothearmy,MIorany

otheragencyforthatmatter,anelaboratestrategybyRAWtoremovePrabhakaranandreplacehimwithMahattayahadbeenputinmotionby1989.Thestory,plantedinthehighlyrespectedIndiannewspaper,wasmeantto

unnervetheTamilcommunityandthrowtheLTTEoffbalance.WhatitactuallydidwastoconfirmallofPrabhakaran’sworstfears.ItexposedRAW’shand.IttippedPrabhakaranoffonwhatawaitedhim,anditmadehimallthemorerelentlessinhisdeterminationtogettheIPKFofftheislandandwreakvengeanceonthehighestechelonsoftheIndiangovernmentforattemptingtoeliminatehim.Italmostcertainlyplantedthefirstseedofsuspicioninhismindabouthisdeputy,Mahattaya,ashewonderedwhetherhewasnowinRAW’spay.ThereportsaidMahattayahadkilledPrabhakaraninashoot-out,andproclaimedhimselftheleaderoftheTigersinawidelycirculatedvideo.Thereportsaidtheshoot-outhappenedasaresultofthetwomen’sdifferences

overmakingadealwithPresidentPremadasa.‘Inthelasttendays,toppoliticalleadersoftheEelammovementhavebeeneliminatedviolently...’thereportsaid,including‘theoutstandingmoderatepoliticalfigure,theveteranA.Amirthalingam,hiscolleagueV.Yogeswaran(TULF),andtheleaderofPLOTEUmaMaheswaranwhoearlierlosttoPrabhakaranintheviolentstruggleforsupremacyinthemilitantmovement.’Itwentontodescribehowpeoplehadgatheredtopayhomagetopostersof

PrabhakaraninthevillageofAnanthaperiyakulam,20kilometresfromVavuniya.Thereportstatedthattheshoot-out,whichclaimedthelifeofPrabhakaran’s

lieutenantKittu,tookplaceintheVavuniyajunglesfromwherePrabhakaranwas

drivenoutbeforebeingshotdead.But,withKittuandMaheswaranclearlyverymuchalive,ittippedoffthe

TigersupremoonwhatRAWhadplannedforhim.Heknewhewasthetarget,thatthiswasabidtotakeovertheTigersandplacethemunderanewhead,hisdeputy,Mahattaya.Fouryearslater,Mahattaya,alongwithover250menwhowereloyaltohim,wouldpaythepriceforRAW’smonumentalbungling.PrabhakaranwasalreadydeeplysuspiciousthattheMarchassassination

attempt—whenagrenadewaslobbedatKittuintheheartofJaffnacity—wasthehandiworkofeitherRAWorMahattaya.Overandabovethat,Mahattaya’sfrequenttwo-wayradiochatterwithMadras—whichwasnotwiththeLTTEremnantsthere—reinforcedPrabhakaran’ssuspicionthatthemanhehadgrowntotrustwasplayingadoublegame.ButitwouldtaketheIndianNavy’sattempttocommandeertheshipinwhich

Prabhakaran’skinsmanandkeyaideKittuwasattemptingtore-enterthenorth,forMahattaya’sfatetobesealed.Kittu,crippled,leftwithonlyoneleg,hadbeenflowntoMadrasfortreatment

andwasvirtuallywrittenoffasafighterafterthat.HerantheLTTE’soperationsfromtheIndiancitythereon.Kittu,originallyfromVelvettithurailikePrabhakaran,andrelatedtohimby

blood,asweremanyoftheLTTEcadres,madeanameforhisruthlessnessandthecold-bloodedmannerinwhichhepumpedtwenty-eightbulletsintoTELOchiefSriSabaratnamevenashebeggedforhislife.Asoneofthewarwounded,hecouldnotaspiretorivalMahattayaor,forthat

matter,Prabhakaran,whomhehadreportedlysoughttoreplaceinJaffnawhenthemainLTTEoperationswerebeingrunbythebigchiefoutofIndia.Kittu,entrustedwiththeLTTE’soperationsinMadrasin1988,wasboth

cannyandruthless.HisbrutalkangaroocourtsalmostalwaysendedwiththemassmurderofTamilcivilians,whosebodieswere‘dumped’inpitsservingasmassgravesthatbecamecommonallacrossthenorth.HeoversawtheeliminationofhundredsofTELOcadresandfreelyadmitted

itwasnotpunishmentfortheallegedextortionofJaffnaites—asputoutbytheLTTEpropagandists—butforTELO’slinkstoIndianintelligenceagencies.ButhishatredofIndianotwithstanding,sittinginMadrasin1988,wherethe

LTTEstillhadthebacking,bothemotionalandmaterial,ofthepoliticalclass

andmanypowerfulTamils,KittuwasnotcompletelyimmunetoRAWpersuasioneither.Indiancounter-intelligenceoperativeswooedhimrelentlessly,andthe

politicallysavvyKittuissaidtohavefinallyagreedtosendanemissarytoPrabhakarantofindawaytoendthewarbetweentheLTTEandtheIPKFwhichhad,atanyrate,slowlypushedPrabhakaranbackintotheWanni.Theemissary,amannamedJohnny,flowninsecretintothejunglesbythe

IndianAirForce,didn’tgetfar,aRAWinsidersaid.Withnoideathattherewasevenaseparate,secret,insidepeacetrackbetweenRAWandtheLTTE,IPKFsoldiersgunnedhimdownasheheadedoutonabicycletowardsPrabhakaran’shideout.EvenPrabhakarandidn’tknowhewascoming.Andawarthatcouldhaveendedayearandahalfbeforeitdid,ragedon.ByOctober1989,Kittu—inaspecialarrangementwiththeBritishHigh

CommissionandthroughthegoodofficesofLTTEideologueBalasingham—wasflowntoLondonwherehewasmetonarrivalbyofficialsfromtheSriLankanHighCommissionandensconcedin52,TavistockLaneinLondon.ThisleftthefieldwideopenforMahattaya,Kittu’srivalforPrabhakaran’saffections,toliveuptohisnickname,‘thebigman’.AsearlyasSeptember1987,amonthaftertheIPKFlandedinJaffna,

PrabhakarandispatchedMahattayatotrapthetopleadershipofthePLOTE,andshortlythereafter,toeliminatePLOTEvicechiefR.VasudevaandseventyothersincoldbloodundertheguiseofinvitingthemforameetinginBatticaloa,whilesimultaneouslysendingoutteamstowipeoutleadersoftheEPRLFandENDLF.Earliertoo,itwasMahattayawhohadbeengiventhetaskofhandingoverthe

cyanidecapsulestothePulendran-ledLTTEsquaddetainedatPalalythatwouldsetthestageforthefinalbreakwithIndiaovertheIPKF.ThesameMahattayawho,on6October1987,killedfiveIndiansoldiersinKankensanthurai(KKS)withagarlandofburningtyres,whichfinallyledIndianarmychiefGen.SundarjitodeclareopenwaragainsttheLTTEthenextday,therebyendingthemythof‘peace-keeping’.ItwasagainMahattayawho,conveyingonPrabhakaran’sbehalfthatthe

LTTEwasinfavourofpeace,signedafourteen-pointagreementonsettinguptheinterimadministrationfortheNorthernandEasternprovinces,counter-

signedbytheFirstSecretaryattheIndianHighCommission,HardeepPuri,in1990.ItwouldlatercometolightthatwhileMahattayawasinColombo,hewas

assiduouslycultivatedbyRAW’sChandran.Thiswasthesametopspookwhohadearliercloselyworkedwith

PrabhakaranwhenhewasinIndia.Infact,manysayhe‘babysat’theTigerchiefthroughthetimehewasgivenarmstraininginTamilNadu,whenhewasunderhousearrestinDelhiatAshokHoteland,again,duringtheThimputalks.Thetwoaresaidtohavesharedanexcellentrapport.OneoftherareIndianswhospokeandunderstoodSriLankanTamil,

Chandranadmitsasmuch,sayingthatPrabhakaranneversharedhisinnermostthoughts,buttheydidspendtimetogether.‘Helovedtoeat,hewasalwaysfat,notyourtypicalleaderontherun.Buthisappetiteforviolencewasphenomenal.’TheJuly1989reportinTheHinduonPrabhakaran’sdeathenragedtheTiger

leader,frustratedashewasatbeingpushedbackbytheIPKFintotheWanni.Themovetocontainhisdeputy-turned-rivalwouldbeginbychippingawayat

Mahattaya’slarger-than-lifeimagetoshowhehadbloodonhishands.TheroleoftheLTTEandMahattayaineliminatingAmirthalingamandYogeswaranwassplashedalloverTamilnewspapers.Mahattayawasalsogivenchargeofthebrutalanti-Muslimpogrominthe

EasternProvincethatwouldleavescoresdeadanddisplacethousandsofMuslimfamilieswhowereforcedtoliveincampsthereafter,astheydoeventoday.TheideaofmassacringtheTamil-speakingMuslimcommunitymayhavebeenplantedinPrabhakaran’sheadbyColombo’scannyUNPleader—afriendofIndia’s—themanwhowantedtobePresident,GaminiDissanayake,aswellashisrival,Athulathmudali,seekingtodriveawedgebetweentheTamilsofthenorthandtheeast.Untilthen,noonetreatedtheHinduTamil,MuslimTamilorChristianTamilasanythingbutTamil.WhatitwasaboutMahattaya’smovementsthatarousedthesuspicionsofthe

LTTEsupremoandhisinnercoterieremainsunclear.KittuhadbeenthetargetofafailedassassinationattemptwhenamanshotathimandthenthrewagrenadeintohisvehiclewhilehewasinJaffnacityenroutetomeethisgirlfriend.Thoughheescapedwithhislife,helostaleg.Asimilarmethodofattackhad

beenemployedagainstPottuAmmanwhohadhadeightassassinationattemptsagainsthim,buthadescapedunhurteachtime.TheLTTEbosswasledtobelievebyhisinnercirclethatMahattaya,atthebehestofRAW,wasbehindtheattacks.ReportsofMahattaya’spopularitywithbothPremadasaandtheIndiansdid

notendearhimtotheleadershipeither,withPrabhakaranremainingcommittedtoviolence,notnegotiationsortalks,astheonlyviablemeanstoachieveEelam.ButwhenMahattaya,duringanIPKFencounter,inexplicablylost

Chunnakam,andtheentireJaffnaPeninsulawastakenoverbytheIndiansoldiersfollowingasecretmeetingatahousenearbywithpersonsunknown,Prabhakaransmeltarat.TheshockinglossoftheEasternProvincethereaftertotheSriLankaArmyin1992,whentieswithColombopredictablyunravelled—Colombohadregainedcontrolofmuchoftheeastanddidn’tneedPrabhakaran—rattledtheLTTEleadershipanddemoralizedtherankandfile.Mahattaya,accusedofpoorcombattactics,wassummarilyrelievedofhismilitaryresponsibilities.ButitwouldbeanotherthreeyearsaftertheIPKF’sexitfromtheSriLankan

theatreofwar—duringwhichtimeMahattayawaseffectivelysidelinedandhisrival,‘Baby’Subramaniam,rosetotakehisplaceasnumbertwo—beforetheRAWagent’srunwouldcometoanend.SettingthesealonMahattaya’sgoryendwastheIndianNavy’sdramatic

captureinJanuary1993ofaMalaysian-registeredship,theM.V.Ahat,thathadKittuonboard.Toevadecapture,Kittublewhimselfupalongwiththeship.TheLTTEsoonlearntthatthemanwhohadtippedoffRAWaboutKittu’ssecretpresenceontheshipthathadenteredIndianwatersandledtohisdeathatsea,wasnoneotherthanMahattaya.ViceAdmiral(Retd)Jacob,thencommanderoftheEasternFleet,recounts

howtheIndianCoastGuard’ssurveillanceaircraft,aDornier,pickedoutasuspiciousshippackedwitharmsandexplosivesandtonsoffuel—trackedallthewayfrominternationalwaters—asitenteredtheIndianExclusiveEconomicZoneon6January1993,withoutswitchingonitslights.TheM.V.AhatwasinIndianwaters.Theyhadbeentippedoffby‘actionableintelligence’fromRAW,Jacobsaid.

TheLTTE,whichhadbeenmonitoringMahattaya’sradiochatter,learntthathe

wastheonewhotippedoffRAWwhichinturnconfirmedtoIndianauthoritiesthatKittuhadboardedtheshipinSingapore.TheyalsoconfirmedthattheshipwaspackedwitharmsandexplosivesfortheLTTEthathadbeenprocuredfromPakistan.KittuhadbeenexpelledfromtheUKfor‘unlawfulactivities’andmetasimilarfatewhenhestayedinFranceandlaterinSwitzerland,untilhesurfacedinSingapore,kittedoutwithanewartificialleg.TherewaslittledoubtthatMahattayawantedtopreventthereturnofanold

rival.AsacreatureofRAW,ittiedintowhathewasbeingpaidtodo.

TheM.V.Ahat,originallytheM.V.Yahata,whichtheLTTEhadpaintedover,wasregisteredtoHonduras.IthadsetsailfromPhuket,Thailand,andhadalreadybeenmarkedoutbyIndiansurveillance.Shadowedforbehavingsuspiciously,forfrequentlychangingcourse,itwas

askedforitscallsignasitenteredIndianwaters.Astheviceadmiralsaid,theIndianNavyknewtheyhadthemwhentheygaveoutthewrongcallsign.Afterbeingshadowedforthreedays,itwasfinallyinterceptedandescortedbytwoCoastGuardvessels,theCGSVivekandtheINSKirpan,amissilecorvette,towardsMadrasbytheIndianNavyon13January.AsitapproachedMadras,some700kilometresfromthecoast,thecrew

abandonedtheshipandKittuandeightotherLTTEcadresblewthemselvesup.Theviceadmiralsaysheremembersorderingtheblown-upshiptobeboarded

andeverymanonittobetakenintocustody.‘ThesmugglingofarmsandweaponsbytheLTTEhadgrown.OurseaswereinfestedwithsmallboatsandbigboatscarryingarmsandammofortheLTTE.TheSriLankaNavyandtheIndianNavyworkedtogetherverycloselyonthis.Contrarytowhatisbelieved,it’sIndiathatinrecentyearshassuppliedthemwithfast-speedattackboatsandanewlyrefittedfrigate,’saidtheviceadmiralwhowouldgoontobecomeIndia’sdeputyNationalSecurityAdviser.Acoupleofmonthslater,afterapublicsharingofthechargesheetbyan

LTTEkangaroocourt,ateamoftopLTTEcommandersledbyPottuAmmanandincludingtheheadofanelitehitsquadandthenavalchiefoftheLTTE’sSeaTigers,CdrSoosai,arrivedatMahattaya’shomebaseinManipayon31

March1993.ReportssayMahattayawastakentotheLTTEcampinChavakachcheriandtorturedoveraperiodofseveralweeksandmonthsuntilhecouldbarelyspeak,sitorstand.HewasfinallyexecutedinDecember1994,nineteenmonthsafterhewasledawayfromhishome.Some257ofhismenwereexecutedandtheirbodiesdumped,LTTE-style,inapitandsetonfire.Infact,Mahattaya’sandRAW’splantobumpoffPrabhakaranhadcome

unstuckseveraltimesbefore.ThefirstwaswhenMahattaya’scloseaide,amancalledSuresh,wasunabletogetthemessageintimetoahitman,Susilan,whomhehadplantedinPrabhakaran’ssecuritydetail.Suresh,whoonlygotasfarasPutur,wascaughtbytheLTTEintelligenceunit.Thesecondtime,anotherLTTEactivistbasedinMadras,awoundedone-

leggedoperativenamedEngineer,wasspottedinJaffnabyPottuAmmanandtakenintocustody.EngineerspilledthebeansontheRAWplantotakeovertheLTTEbybringingMahattayaoutfromthecold,eliminatingPrabhakaranandinstallingthe‘bigman’inhisplace.EngineerhadbeenapproachedbyRAWafterhundredsofLTTEcadreslivinginMadrashadbeenpickedupforquestioningaftertheassassinationofRajivGandhi.TheIndianoperativespersuadedhimtogotoMahattayaandinformhimtoputthe‘AssassinateVP’planinaction.Mahattaya,inturn,sentSureshtogetthehitman,Susilan,inPrabhakaran’ssecuritydetailtoshoottheLTTEleader.ThethirdandmostseriousattempttoeliminatePrabhakaranwaswhen

Mahattayausedaback-uphitteamoffourteenLTTEprisonerstokillhimbyplantingabombinhissleepingquarters.ThefourteenhomecomingheroesweresentspeedboatsbytheLTTEandwereontheirwaytoJaffnaafterapurportedjailbreakfromVellorejail!Ifithadn’tbeenforatip-offfromaninsider,thestoryoftheLTTEmayhaveendedthere.Thefourteen,detainedbytheLTTEintelunit,revealedtheentireplantotheirinterrogators.Adele,wifeofformerpartyideologueAntonBalasingham,inherbookThe

WilltoFreedom2writes:

MahathayaandsomeofhiscloseassociateswerearrestedbytheLTTE’sintelligencewingforconspiringtoassassinateMrPirabakaran.InamassivecordonandsearchofhiscampinManipay—supervisedbyseniorcommandersoftheLTTE—Mahattayawastakenintocustodyalongwithhisfriends.Wewereshockedandsurprisedbythissuddenturnofevents.MrPirabakaran,whovisitedourresidencethatday,toldusbrieflyofaplothatchedbytheIndianexternalintelligenceagency—theRAW—involvingMahattayaasthechiefconspiratortoassassinatehimandtotakeoverthe

leadershipoftheLTTE.Healsosaidthatfurtherinvestigationswereneededtounravelthefullscopeoftheconspiracy.

Mahattaya.TheRAWmolethatdidn’tgetaway.BothavictimandanexampleofIndianintel’sbungling.

6WhiteVans,WhiteFlags

‘AFEWHOURSAGOONTuesdaymorning[19May],ourgroundtroopsconfirmedthattheyhaverecoveredthedeadbodyoftheworld’smostruthlessterroristleader.ImakethisdisclosurewithresponsibilityandpleasureasmillionsofSriLankansaswellasthearmywouldbemostdelightedatthisnews.’

—SriLankaArmyChiefLtGen.SarathFonseka

At12.30p.m.on19May,Gen.FonsekaexultedinthegoryendofPrabhakaran,theleaderoftheLTTE,themanwhohadthebloodofIndianPrimeMinisterRajivGandhionhishands,andthatofcountlessothers,TamilandSinhala.

OnaswelteringdayinOctober2015,theguardsatthespankingnewarmycheckpointatVaduvakkalbridgepaidlittleheedasourbrightyellowNanoslowedandwetookinthesightofthelonefishermanstandingintheshallows,castinghisnetasheperchedprecariouslyonthescorchedremnantsofthebundthathadonceconnectedthetwosidesofthestunninglypicturesquewaterway.Astoneplaquenearbyreads:‘Waduwakkal(sic)causewayisand(sic)

importantsegmentwhichconnectsMullaithivuandPudukuduiruppu.Partofthishadbeendestroyedbyterrorist(sic)duringthehumanitarianoperationtopreventadvancing(sic)armytowardsPudukuduiruppu.Theareasymbolizestheendofthe14kmlongterroristditchcumbundwhichannexed(sic)theNoFireZone(NFZ)fromtherestofthearea.Theruthlessterrorist(sic)wereadamantofholdingtheinnocentciviliansintheNFZ...’

Itistheonlysign,badgrammarnotwithstanding,thatthiswasthecrossingwhere,on16May2009,deathraineddownonthousandsofSriLankanTamilcivilianstrappedinthewaterwayonthelastdayofthefinalwaragainsttheTigersledbytheirbrutalleader,Prabhakaran.ApartfromthedeeplydisturbingdocumentaryKillingFieldsbytheUK’s

Channel4,therearedozensofphotographsandvideosthatrecordthepanickedpopulacepickingtheirwayacrossthebundinasinglefile—men,womenandchildren—non-combatantsalongsidebelligerentsinmufti,theirmeagrepossessionspiledontheirheads,astheycrossedthisverywaterbodytotheso-calledNoFireZone.Franticallysendingtextmessagesontheirphones,theLTTE’ssecondrung

wasreachingouttocontactsabroad,fromIndia’sTamilpoliticiansinChennaitoUnitedNations(UN)officialsinNewYorkandformerUNpeaceinterlocutorsinOslowithonesinglepurpose—tonegotiatesafepassageoutofthewarzone.TheLTTEmilitiahad,inearlyApril,turnedthousandsofciviliansintohuman

shields.ButrespondingtotheSriLankaArmyurgingthemonmegaphonestosurrender,manywoulddiewhentheydidjustthat,moweddowninthecrossfire,drowningintheknee-deepwaters,theirbodiestrappedintherocksbelow,theirpossessions,bagsandclothingstrewnacrossthebluewaters,thewhitefoamawashwiththeirblood.Theoneswhosurvivedtheshellingdiedathousanddeathsafterthebattle.Theywerebeaten,raped,takenawayandshotdeadinhorrificactsofvengeance.TheVaduvakkaldeathtrap.Over40,000dead,saidtheUNReportofthe

Secretary-General’sPanelofExpertsonAccountabilityinSriLanka.‘TensofthousandslosttheirlivesfromJanuarytoMay2009,manyofwhomdiedanonymouslyinthecarnageofthelastfewdays,’thedocumentknownastheDarusmanReportstates.Unofficialfiguresputthetollat1,00,000.Officialfigureswouldlaterbringthatdowntoamere15,000.Somewhereinbetweenthosefiguresliesthetruth.MycompanionthatOctoberday,Ramkumar,ayoungjournalistfromthe

TamilnewspaperVirakesari,cautionedmeagainsttakingphotostooopenlyalthoughotherwartouristshadslowedtheirvehiclesinfrontofus,clickingpicturesastheynegotiatedthebrand-new,narrowbridgethatreconnectedbothsidesoftheinfamouswaterway.

Ithadbeensixyearssincetheevent,andtheyoungman,tellingly,wasstillworriedaboutattractingundueattention.EversincethedramaticsetbackintheWanni,asthewarcametoaheadin

April2009,theLTTEforciblydrewtheTamilpopulaceoutoftheirhouses,movingthousandstomakeshifthomes,placingthemintentedcitiesinandaroundtheinsurgents’bunkersinMullaithivuinthehopethatitwoulddetertheSriLankaArmyfromattackingthem.Asthearmyclosedin,seniormembersoftheLTTEwhohadconcludedthey

couldn’twinthewarbeganactivelyseekingsurrender.From10Mayrightupto16May,theseniorleaderstoldthetrappedciviliansinthecampsthattheywerefreetogowheretheypleased,leavingtheoncetightlymonitoredcheckpointsunmanned.Inaparallelefforttosafeguardthecivilians,UNpeacenegotiatorSolheim

hadsuggestedtotheRajapaksagovernmentthattheinternationalcommunity,particularlytheUSandIndia,werewillingtoescorttheinnocentciviliansandLTTEcadreswhowantedtosurrendertothesafezones.TheplanwastosendashiptothenorthandtheeastwithUNofficialsaswell

asrepresentativesoftheinternationalcommunityonboard,whowouldconductacensus,photographanddocumentallTamils,divestthemoftheirarms,takethemtoColomboandreleasethemlater.SolheimandtheLTTEmiddlemanKPweresettomeetinOslotoworkout

thedetailson16May.UnbeknownsttothethousandswaitingintheWanni,themeetingwascalledoffattheverylastmomentbyPrabhakaran.Thesuggestionhadfallenondeafears.PresidentRajapaksa,visitingJordanatthetime,wantedtheLTTEtopleadershiptosurrendertohim,andhadlittleintentionoflettinghundredsofthousandsofLTTEsympathizerswalkfree.KPwouldlatertellthemediathattheLTTEleadershipwasholdingoutfora

conditionalsurrenderthatwouldseetheTigerleadershiplaydowntheirarmstoathirdparty,nottheSriLankangovernment,inreturnforaceasefireand‘negotiationsforapoliticalsolution’.Neithertheinternationalcommunity—norColombo—wouldhaveanyofit.

Nor,forthatmatter,wouldPrabhakaran,whohadsecretlyreachedouttoDelhithroughanintermediarytonegotiateaseparategetaway.Colombo,liketheLTTEsupremohimself,hadotherplans.

WithPrabhakaran,orsomeoneequallyill-advised,decidingtodispatchtwosuicidebomberswhenthemassexodusactuallybeganonthemorningof16May,hundredsneedlesslyperishedinthefiercedo-or-diebattle,ajournalistembeddedwiththeSriLankaArmytoldme.Allthosewhowantedtosurrenderthereafterwerelookedatwithevenmore

suspicionbytheSriLankaArmy.Theywereaskedtostripdown,removetheirouterclothing,divestthemselvesofalltheirpossessions,andthencomeacrossthewatercarryingwhiteflags.Butitwasacharade,asham,atravesty.Forthearmy,everyTamilwhohadlivedundertheLTTEwassuspect,seenas

aclosetTigersympathizer.Themen,womenandchildrenconnectedinsomewayoranothertoTigercadreswere,intheireyes,legitimatetargets.NoonebattedaneyelidastheTamilsoftheWanniweretakenintocustodyafterpubliclysurrendering,onlytodisappear.The‘takenoprisoners’directivewasinplace.ThiswastheWhiteFlagmassacre.Adayofinfamy.Therewasnodocumentation,nopaperwork,norecordofwhohadbeendetained.AstheextremelydisturbingvideosbroadcastbyChannel4andthe

photographsinvariouspublicationsandwebsitesaroundtheworldshow,youngboys,girlsbarelyintotheirteens,women,men,weresimplymarchedbehindthenearesttruck.Somewereraped,allwereexecuted.Theterrorthatmarkedtheirhorrificanddesperatelysadlasthours,fearwrittenallovertheirfaces,wasthepricetheypaidforbeingofTamilorigin,andliving—willinglyorunderpainofdeath—underthebootoftheLTTE.ThevideooftheTamiltelevisionpresenterIsaipriya’sterrifiedlastmoments

capturedthemindlessbrutalityvisitedonhaplessinnocentsinthedyingmomentsofthatwar.Barelyabletostand,herlegsbuckling,clearlypleadingforherlifeaftershehadbeenraped,theTVanchorwhomthesoldiersreportedlymistookforPrabhakaran’sdaughter,Dwaraka,isshownbeingdraggedawaybyfourSriLankansoldiersasanakedmanwalksalongside.PlayedonTamiltelevisionstationsacrosstheworld,thepopularyoungwoman’sgangrapeandmurderousendepitomizedthesenselessbloodlustthatconsumedtheSriLankaArmyasitendedtheTamils’lastgraspatfreedom.AstheSydneyMorningHeraldreported:

Thewarendedthatday.Thebodiesofsomeofthosewhosurrenderedwerefoundinthedaysfollowing,butmanywerenot.Itisbelievedthatnoneofthosewhosurrendered,survived.

Inthepropagandawarunleashedbybothsides,andinthebidtocoverupthekillingofnon-combatantsthattheUNaidagencieswouldgoontobaldlydescribeas‘genocide’,theSriLankanmediahadreportedthatinthedayspriortothelastbattle,civilianswhohadattemptedtofleeLTTEcampshadreportedlybeenkilledandtheirbodieskeptondisplaytodeterothersfromescaping.SriLankanauthoritiesinsistthatitisthesephotographsofpeoplekilledbythe

LTTEthatwerecirculated.TheyclaimedtheywerebeingunfairlyblamedfortheWhiteFlagmassacrebyLTTEremnantsdeposingbeforetheUNHumanRightsCommissioninGeneva.Allthroughthebloodysurrenders,onlyahandfulofhiscloseaideswereprivy

tothewhereaboutsoftheLTTEleader.ButastheSriLankaArmyeliminatedthelastvestigesofopposition,clearingthemangrovesandthelagoonsofthemilitia,thehuntforPrabhakaran,whomtheTamilshadblindlytrustedtoguidethemtosafety,wassteppedup.TheSriLankaArmy’sspecialforcestrackedhimtovariouslocations.Hisolderson,CharlesAntony,twenty-four,diedasthearmydrewhimoutandkilledhim.Ifthesonwassoclose,couldthefatherbefarbehind?Afterseveralfalsealarmsduringclearingoperations,Prabhakaran’sbodywas

foundadaylateron17May,intheflatmarshesoftheNanthikadallagoonjustacrossthebridge.Lyingalongsideahandfulofdeadbodyguards,onesideofhisheadblownoff,hisforeheadriddledwithbullets,hisbodylaymuddied,blackened,hisgenitaliacoveredwithascrapofblackcloth.Nanthikadal.NottheDunkirktheTamildiasporahadbuiltituptobe,butthe

finalreckoning.UnlikeVaduvakkal,hedidn’tevenhaveanescaperouteintothesea.ButdiehardLTTEsupportersrefusetobelievePrabhakarandiedinahailofSriLankaArmybulletsinthesemarshesonthedayhisbodywasfound.Addingfueltothespeculationthathedidn’tdiethere,butwasinveigledintosurrenderingandshot,andhisbodyplacedlateratNanthikadal,thearmychiefGen.Fonsekawaitedforanotherforty-eighthoursbeforemakingthefinalannouncementofhisdeath.Thegeneral—andtheRajapaksagovernment—clearlywantedtomakedoubly

surethatthebodyinquestionwastheLTTEsupremo’s.ItwasonlyafterPrabhakaran’sbodywaspositivelyidentifiedbytwopeople—thecageyLTTEofficialspokespersonDhayaMasterwhohadescapedandbeenarrestedwhile

fleeingwithcivilians,andformerLTTEEasternCommanderColKarunawhoidentifiedPrabhakaranthroughhisidentitytag,001,andthebirthmarkonhisthigh—thattheannouncementwasmade.ConspiracytheoristsamongtheTamildiaspora,however,insistthat

Prabhakaranwascapturedlateonthenightof16Mayashethrashedthroughthemarshesattemptingtoreachhissubmarineyardjustupthecoast.Thisiswhere,ontheturnofftoPuthukkudiyirupputotheocean,hisSeaTigernavalchief,CommanderSoosai,hadcreatedahugesemi-submersiblethatcouldbelaunchedfromaspeciallybuilt70-foot-deepwatershipyard.Thatwastohavebeenhisescaperoute.Hehadnointentionofsurrenderingorgettingcaught.Hewasn’tevenwearinghiscyanidecapsulearoundhisneck,andhadonlyahandfulofLTTEbodyguardswithhim.Therusting,mangled,30-footsubthatwesawatthesubmarineyardisamere

shell,ahull,armour-platedandclearlydividedintoaforwardsection,alivingarea,astoragespaceforcargoandanengineroom.Itdidn’tlookatallsea-worthy,butsixyearsearlier,itmayhavebeeninbettershape.Furtherdowntheroad,inaveritablewarmuseumtotheLTTEthatnowattractsallmannerofvisitors,therewerefourmini-subsandseveralboatsthattheSeaTigershadusedforgun-anddrug-running.AnyoneofthemcouldhavebeenPrabhakaran’spossibletickettofreedom—ifhecouldhavegotthere.Buthemmedinbythesea,backedintoalagoonandinthefaceofarelentless

assaultfromanadvancingarmythatcouldalmosttastevictory,atrappedPrabhakarannolongerhadeventheelementofsurpriseleft.Hehadonlyoneobviousroute—throughthemangroves,wheretheSriLankaArmylayinwaitforhimtobreakcover.Hesimplydidn’tstandachance.SinceApril2009,severaldivisionsoftheSriLankaArmyhadbeenpushed

intoMullaithivu,ashaddeep-penetrationSpecialForces,whichsteadilyclearedtheentirenorthernandnorth-easterncoastline,bunkertobunker,bermtoberm,ofeverysingleLTTEbaseinathree-prongedmovetocloseinonPrabhakaran.On19April,Brig.PrasannaDeSilva,headingthe55Division,blewaway

almosttheentiretoprungofLTTEcommandersinPudumathalan.By21April,hehadclearedtheA9highwayashesweptfromthewestcoaststeadilyintoMannar.Inthefinalstagesofthebattle,itwasMaj.Gen.DeSilva(promotedaftertheLTTEwasdestroyed)whotookchargeofthekeyroutesalongsideMaj.

Gen.ChargieGallageofthe59DivisionandMaj.Gen.ShavendraSilvaofthe58Division.TheLTTEwhichhad,attheheightofitspower,heldswayover15,000square

kilometresoflandacrossthenorthandtheeast,weresqueezedintoameresliverofland—42squarekilometresofmarshandmangrove.Prabhakaran,leftwithnostrategyforacounter-attackoraplantofighthiswayout,wastrappedinthetinystretchoflandatMullivayikalwithnoviableexitplan.Thearmyonlyhadtowaitforhimtobreakcover.SittingoutintheIndianOcean,withthefullknowledgeoftheSriLankan

navalforces,wastheformidableIndianNavywhichwasworkingintandemwiththeUSNavy,usingGPSandothernavigationaltrackingdevicestomonitortheLTTEchief’severymove.Usingtheimpressiveresourcesatitscommand,theIndianNavywashelpingtodirectthethree-prongedattackbySriLankanforcesthatwouldforcePrabhakaranandthehandfulofmenwhohadstayedwithhimintothemarshylagoon,justinland,fromwheretherewouldbenoescape.ThefirepowerthattheSriLankaArmyunleashedoverthenextseventyhours

wasfierce.Whenitendedandthemarshesbecamedeathlyquiet,thetroopsweresenttoclearoutthedead.ItwasthenthatSgtMuthuBandafoundabodythatlookedlikePrabhakaran’s.Sixyearslater,wedroveintoaformerLTTEhideoutandtrainingyard,barely

astone’sthrowfromNanthikadal.Completewithaswimmingpoolandfiringrangesandbunkers,tuckedinsidetheMullaithivujungle,thiswastheTigerleader’spreferredlair.TheSriLankansoldiershadtransformeditintoabustlingarmedcamp.Aswewalkedthrough,aSriLankansoldierwhoaccompaniedus,pulledmebacktorecountinbrokenEnglishhowhewasrighttherewhenPrabhakaran’sbodywasfoundinNanthikadal.HesaidthatheandagroupofsoldiersdraggedthebodyoutofthemarshesassoonastheirfellowsergeantbegantoshoutthatthebodywasPrabhakaran’s.Refusingtotellmehisnameashewasstillinthearmy,allthatthetall,young

soldierwouldsaywasthatwhileasergeantfoundthebody,itwasa‘colonel’whoidentifiedit.Itwasadayhewillneverforget.‘Mymindwentcompletelyblank;Icouldn’tthinkstraight,’hesaid.‘Butweallknewthatthiswasit,thattwenty-sixyearsofwarwasover,thatthemanwehadcometokillwasdead,

andyes,wedidcelebrate,wescreamed,weshouted,wefiredourweapons,wepulledathisbody,shoutingthathewasdead.Itwasover,’hesaid,smilingashepointedtotheLTTEcamptheyhadtakenover,andsayingwithaquietandunmistakeablesenseoftriumph:‘Theyaregone,wearehere.’RAWsourcessaythatuntiltheverylastminute,Prabhakaranwastrickedinto

believingthatasurrenderwasaviableoption,andthathewouldbehandedovertoaneutralinternationalgroupandnottheSriLankangovernmentasColombowanted.AstheLTTEbegantolaydownweapons,andtheUNnegotiatorsand

journalistsembeddedwiththeSriLankanforcestriedtointervenetogetsafepassagefortheLTTEcommandersandtheirfamilies—andfailed—Prabhakaran’sownsurrenderplanwasbeingworkedoutbyhissupposedtrustedconfidantKPwhohasadmittedthathehadreassuredhisoldfriendhewoulddohisbestforhim.UnknowntoKP,hisconversationwithPrabhakaran’saideVelu—Prabhakaran

neverspoketoanyoneonthephone—wasbeingmonitoredbyDefenceSecretaryGotabayaRajapaksa.Alongsidethe‘takenoprisoners’diktatthatwasissuedfromtheveryhighestlevelsofthemilitary,theplantoensurethatPrabhakarandidnotmakearunforitwas,clearly,alsoinplace.KPwouldlatertellaseniorjournalistoftheColomboTelegraphofhisshock

whenhewasbroughtbeforeRajapaksaafterhelandedinColombofollowinghisarrestintheMalaysiancapital,KualaLumpur,inAugust2009.HealsospokeofhowthesecretaryofdefencewouldadmittohimthathehadbeenlisteninginonhisconversationswithPrabhakaran’saideastheydiscussedthe‘surrender.’WhiletheconflictingaccountsoftheLTTEsupremo’slastmomentsmake

manyTamilscontinuetoholdtothisdaythatPrabhakaransurrenderedandwasthenexecuted,andhisbodyplacedinthemarshesatNanthikadal,fewbelievethattheir‘Annai’couldhavegivenupthefightsoeasily.Heshowednosignsofhavingputupafight.Tamilwebsitesshowhedidnothaveastitchofclothingonhimwhenhisbodywasfoundandonlyapartofhisheadhadbeenblownoff,asifhehadbeenshotatcloserange,perhapsfromafewfeetaway.Mostintriguingly,givingthestorysomecredenceisthefactthattheofficialphotographdistributedbythearmedforcesshowshimfullyclothed.Prabhakaran’sfinalhours—asmuchofamysteryashismisdirectedlife.

Thecentralquestionremains,however:WhywouldPrabhakaranbelievethatIndia,theUS,theUK,theEUandNorwaywouldfacilitateasurrender—evenanunconditionalone—andofferhimsafepassage?Perhaps,unschooledinthewaysoftheworldandnolongeradvisedbythe

sophisticatedLTTEideologueBalasingham,whohaddiedin2006,hewasunawarethattheleadershipinthesecountrieshadlosttheirtrustinhimafterhehadrepeatedlythrownpeacedealsand,finally,theCeasefireAgreementbrokeredbytheinternationalcommunityin2002,backintheirfaces.Theworldhadchangedsince9/11andtoleranceforhisbrandofterrorwasatanall-timelow.TheUShadgonefromsympatheticsupporteroftheTamilcausetocriticastheTamildiasporafailedtowinovertheObamaadministration.AformalIndia-brokeredsafepassagewasmerefantasy,giventhatthegovernmentthatcamebacktopowerinIndiathatveryweekwasledbySoniaGandhi,widowofthefirstandonlyforeignleaderhehadassassinatedin1991.KP,whohadbeenestrangedfromtheLTTEleadersince2003,butwhohad,

somesaysuspiciously,reconciledwithhisbossastheLTTE’smilitaryfortunesnosedived,wasstrangelyhismaininterlocutor.BankingonAIADMKleaderJayalalithaastheonewhowouldfindawayout

showedequallypoorjudgement.WhetheritwasanelectoralployoragesturetohonourhermentorM.G.Ramachandran’sfriendshipwithPrabhakaran,shehadopenlyprofessedhersupportforEelam—andthenspectacularlylosttheTamilNaduparliamentarypolls.Thequestionwillalwaysbethis:WasPrabhakaranunderthemistaken

impressionthatIndia—intandemwithNorway—wouldstepinandgivehimasafehaven,overlookhispast?OrdidLTTEsympathizersandtheRAWoperativestheydealtwithgrosslymiscalculatehowfartheycouldgowithsuchadeal?WasDelhieveronboard?

FonsekaProvocation

TheactualmovetogoontheoffensiveandfinishofftheTigerswassetrollingafterPrabhakaran’sill-consideredassassinationattemptonthelifeofSriLankaArmyChiefLtGen.Fonsekaon25April2006.ItwasPrabhakaran’ssignalthatheformallyrejectedthe2002Ceasefire

AgreementthathadbeenforgedbetweenhimandSriLankanPrimeMinister

WickremesingheontheactiveadviceoftheLTTEleader’sownpoliticaladviserBalasingham,whomhesubsequentlyrelegatedtothesidelines.WhiletheSriLankanintelligentsiaroundlycriticizedthemoveatthetimeas

Ranil’sbiggestblunderbecauseitgavedefactolegitimacytoaterroristorganizationthatwasonestepawayfromdeclaringaseparatestate,manyhave,inretrospect,cometoacknowledgethatitcouldhaveproventobeRanil’smasterstroke.Infact,itmayhavebeenthefirstnailthatwasdrivenintotheTigers’collectivecoffin.Andthisiswhy.Astheytravelledfreelyforthefirsttimetothefreewheeling,

fun-lovingSinhala-dominatedsouth—andforeigncountriessuchasIndonesia—totakepartinthepeacenegotiations,TigerslikeColKarunaAmman,theLTTEeasterncommanderinchargeofBatticaloaandAmparai,gotatasteofthegoodlife.Indroppingrestrictionsontravelwithintheisland,themessianicholdofthemilitaristicPrabhakaranonTamilsweakenedastheLTTEleadersmovedfromtheirhithertoharsh,grimexistenceinthejunglestothecitiesinthesouth.ThepeacetalksinPhuket,Thailand,in2002towhichPrabhakaranhadsent

Karuna,wereaneye-openerfortheLTTEcommander,sowingtheseedsforhisfinaldefectionfromtheranksoftheTigersin2004.ItisinThailandthatKarunaclaimshehadhisepiphanythat‘theconflictcanonlyendthroughpoliticalmeans.’Heissaidtohavediscoveredwhateverypeaceinterlocutorhadfound—

Prabhakaranwasneverseriousaboutnegotiatingagenuinepeace.ThiswastruewhenhemadeaverbalpromisetoRajivGandhibackin1987,toPresidentPremadasain1989whomhewouldassassinatefouryearslaterandtoPresidentChandrikaKumaratungawhomhefailedtoassassinatein1999,andfinally,toPrimeMinisterWickremesinghe,withwhompeacetalksledtoacessationofhostilitiesandaformalCeasefireAgreementin2002thatPrabhakaran,withhiscontinuedprovocations,showedhehadnointentionofhonouring.Karuna’sdefection—whetherbecausehelostfaithinamilitarysolutionor

discoveredthegoodlife—however,wouldprovecostlyfortheTigers.Itmeantthelossofitscrucialeasternwing.ItwasfromtheranksoftheeastthattheLTTEchiefrecruitedthehumancannonfodderheusedagainsttheSriLankaArmy.

Karuna’sroleashespilledTigersecretsandhelpedunraveltheLTTEfightingmachinewouldbekeytothedestructionofthemilitants.AshehimselfadmittedinaninterviewtotheWashingtonPostinFebruary2009,soonafterhewasrewardedwithaministryintheRajapaksagovernment,‘Alltheworldknowsthatwithoutme,theycouldn’thavewonthewar.’Hesaidheknewallthehideouts,allthetactics.‘Andwithoutmymanpower’,theTigerswereleftwithoutanarmy.‘Theylosttheirgrip,’hesaid.Karuna’spubliclyarticulatedgrousestemmedfromthefactthatitwashis

soldiersfromtheeastwhowereusedwhentheLTTEwenttowar.ThetoprungoftheLTTEleadershipcomprisednorthernTamils,whoprotectedtheirownwhilesacrificinghisfelloweasterners.Thebreakingpointcamewhen,in2004,hewassupposedlyorderedtoprovideanother1000fightersafterhehadalreadyforciblyrecruitedabattalionofchildsoldiers.Instead,heannouncedhewasquittingtheLTTE.Inanotherill-judgedmove,Karuna—unlikeMahattaya,thekeyPrabhakaran

aidewhowaspreparingtoremovehim,purportedlyatthebehestofIndianintelligence,andwasexecutedbyanunforgivingchief—wasnevertargeted.Colombo,whichkepthimsecureinasafehouse,ensuredhecouldn’tbetouched.InkeepingwiththeLTTEleader’sclassicdoublespeak,profferingpeacewhile

makingwar,PrabhakarancompoundedthaterrorofjudgementonKarunabyattemptingtoeliminatehardlinerGen.Fonseka.ThearmychiefwasbadlyinjuredintheApril2006attackwhentheLTTEsuicidebomber—apregnantwoman—detonatedherselfatthearmyheadquartersinColombojustashewasleavingthebuilding.WhenGen.Fonsekaresumedactivedutyseveralmonthslater,armedwiththe

backingoftheinternationalcommunitywhichworkedtowardsproscribingtheterroroutfitinthirty-threecountries—IndiahadalreadybannedtheLTTEin1992,ayearafterRajivGandhi’sassassination—hewasdeterminedtogeteven.TheendoftheLTTEwasalmostagiven.ThefailedassassinationattemptagainstGotabayaRajapaksaon1December

2006sealedtheirfate.TheSriLankaArmy,trainedandequippedbyIsrael,IndiaandtheUnited

States,firsttookMavilAruinthecriticaleastinJuly2006,followedbySampur

inSeptember.WiththefullbackingofPresidentMahindaRajapaksaandhisbrother

Gotabaya,aformermilitarymanhimself,theSriLankaArmyunderGen.FonsekatookcompletecontroloftheEasternProvincefromtheLTTEforthefirsttimeinfourteenyears.InJanuary2007,akeytowninBatticaloadistrictwascaptured.Sixmonths

later,Maj.Gen.GallagewrestedtheLTTE-heldstrongholdofThoppigalafromtheTigers.BothinSampurandMavilAru,theLTTEwassuckedintofightingaconventionalbattle.Prabhakaranerred.Hehadbeendrawnintoawarwherehehadmovedfromthehit-and-runstrategyofoldtotheconventionaltacticsadoptedbytraditionalarmiesinthebattlefield,overwhichhehadnomastery.Hemadeonemoreerror.IngoingtowarwiththeSriLankanstate,whichhad

beenpreparedtomakeconcessionstohispeople,Prabhakaranlostthesympathyoftheinternationalcommunitywhichhadhelpedbrokerthepeace.From2007to2009,astheSriLankaArmysteadilyclosedinontheLTTE,

withPresidentRajapaksadeterminedtotakeontheLTTEintheeast,theTigerswerehitbyKaruna’sdefection.Thisclosedoffthesupplychainofammunition,weaponryandmilitarycadres.TheLTTEwasunpreparedforafull-scaleoffensive,robbedasitwasofitseyesandears,anditsaccesstointelligenceandmen,moneyandarms,asColKarunawentfrombeingPrabhakaran’smantoGotabaya’s.TheSriLankaAirForce(SLAF)had,intheinterim,beenhonedintoabattle-

readysquad,trainedbytheIndiansandtheIsraelis.InNovember2007,theSLAFbombedabunker,barelyafewkilometresfromtheLTTEcapital,Kilinochchi,andkilledoffS.P.Thamilchelvam,theleaderoftheLTTE’spoliticalwing.Thamilchelvamhadbeentalkingonasatellitephonetomembersofhisfamilyandthediasporaforseveralhoursattheso-calledPeaceSecretariatinKilinochchi,andhadjustretiredtoabunker,whentheSLAF’snewlyacquiredIsraeliKfirfighteraircraftletlooseaUSbomb.Gotabayaisreportedtohavesaid:‘Wewanttogivethemthemessagethatweknowwheretheyare.’Curiously,themanwhohadhandedGotabayatheeastwasonthatverysame

dayarrestedinLondonfortravellingonaforgedpassport.IfanyreinforcementofthetheorythatitwasKarunawhohadinfactgiftedtheeastonaplattertotheSriLankaArmywasnecessary,itcamewithhisclaimthathewastravellingona

diplomaticpassportarrangedforhimbyGotabaya.Afteranine-monthincarceration,hewasdeportedbacktoSriLanka.Nocharge.Towardstheendof2008,theSriLankaArmyfinallytookcontrolofthe

LTTE’sentireeasternwing,includingBatticaloaandTrincomalee,thatithadbattledtoconquerforyears.Withthat,theseparatistslostavitalandstrategicarterythatconnectedthe

easternwaterbodytothenorthernWannihinterland.AsIndiasteppedupitsvigilininternationalwatersinthenorthanditsnavyhinderedtheoncerampantsmugglingofweaponsanddrugs,theLTTEfounditselfhemmedinfromtheeastaswellasthenorth.TheLTTE’sfleetofspeedboatscouldnolongerbringinarmsandequipmentorevencashfromMalaysia,oncearrangedthroughKP,theoutfit’sarms,cashanddrugsprocurer.On1January2009,theLTTEsufferedthefirstofseveralfatalblows.Asthe

SriLankaArmyadvancedonthreefronts,theLTTElostcontroloftheA9arterialroadfromJaffna.ItlostPooneryn;itlostthestrategicElephantPassand,withinhours,theSLAhadoverruntheTigers’administrativecapital,Kilinochchi.Journalistsflownintoseethefallencapitalrecounthoweverysingleofficein

thePeaceSecretariatwheretheLTTEgrandeeshadheldcourtwasempty—theofficesleftwideopenwiththelocksonfilingcabinetsandstoreroomsstillintact.ItwasamineofinformationonLTTEcontactsandtheirsourcesoffundingoverseas.TheonlythingtheLTTEdestroyedastheyexitedwasthehugewatertankinKilinochchi,whichtheSriLankaArmyhasleftuntouched.Sixyearslater,it’stheonlyremainingsymboloftheLTTE’sscorchedearthpolicy.TheLTTEabandonedKilinochchiingreathaste.Some3,00,000people—

cadresandtheirfamilies,andthefarmhandsandfisherfolkwhoworkedthelandandthesea—wereforcedtogowiththemastheyretreateddeeperanddeeperintotheWanniuntiltheyweresqueezedbygovernmentforcesintoMullaithivu,thenorth-eastcorneroftheisleonastripoflandthatmeasured42squarekilometres.

TrappedorSurrender

TheruthlessseparatistwarwagedbytheLTTEagainsttheSinhalese-majoritySriLankangovernmentcametoabloodyendonadesolatebeachatMullaithivuaftermorethanaquarterofacentury,inMay2009,whenthemanwhohadheldoutthedreamofaseparateTamilstate,IlankaiEelam,wasfinallysnared.Hismilitarymightwasexposedasnothingmorethanamyth.Trapped

betweenhisownliesandthosepeddledbytheTamildiaspora,hebelievedthathewasstillofsomevaluetotheinternationalcommunity.Butwithnoarmy,territoryoracapital,andwithagroupwithinhisownorganizationled,manysay,byKP,readytotradehimin,inreturnfortheirownfreedom,Prabhakaranhadnocardslefttoplay.WhyhewaitedforsixmonthsfromthefallofKilinochchiinJanuary2009to

makehisstrangelyaddledmovestoescapefromMullaithivumakeslittlesense.Didhehopetohideamonghiscadresandtakeadvantageoftheassurancesof

asafesurrendergivenbyPresidentRajapaksaandhisbrother,DefenceSecretaryGotabaya,tomakegoodhisownescape?Washeledtobelievethatinthelastmomentsofthewar,hewouldbeflownoutofMullivayikaltosafetybytheIndianNavy,onlytobebetrayedbyDelhiworkingincahootswithColomboandWashington?DidIndiahavethelastlaugh?Ordoestherealstoryliesomewhereinbetween—thatbehindthescenes,

IndianspookswithtiestotheTigershadtriedtogetPrabhakaranandhisfamilytosafety,andtohelpprovidesafepassagefornon-combatants,butfailedinthefaceofColombo’sdeterminationtoendtheTamilinsurgencyonceandforall.Asatopinteloperativetoldme:‘WestoppedtryingonceweheardofthekillingofBalachandran,VP’sfourteen-year-oldson.’Therewasnowaybackafterthat.

7TheTrialandtheConspiracies

THEREWASDEATHLYSILENCEINthePoonamalleecourtroominChennaiasJusticeV.NavaneethamwalkedintotheDesignatedTrialCourton28January1998and,withoutfurtherado,pronouncedthedeathsentenceonalltwenty-sixaccusedintheRajivGandhiassassinationcase.JusticeNavaneethamhadjustmadejudicialhistory.Insymbolicallybreakingthenibofhispenaftersigningthelandmark

judgment,hebroughttoacloseoneofthelongestrunningtrialsinIndianhistory.Thetrialhadpassedthedeathsentenceonthelargestnumberofpeopleinanycourtcaseinthecountryandwasdubbeda‘judicialmassacre’bymembersofthelegalfraternity.Thetrialhadbegunon19January1994,twoyearsafterKaarthikeyan,wholedtheSIT,submittedaformalchargesheeton22May1992againstforty-onepeople.ThespeciallyconstitutedTerroristandDisruptiveActivities(Prevention)Act(TADA)court-concludedhearingson5November1997,hadfinallycometoanend.ThiswasclosurefortheGandhifamily;fortheentirenation.Butdiditgofarenough?DiditlayoutclearlyhowtheLTTEmanagedto

catchIndia’ssecurityestablishmentsocompletelyoffguard?Despitetheindictmentofgovernments,politiciansandthepolicebynotone

buttwocommissionsofinquiry—oneheadedbyJusticeJ.S.VermawasconstitutedaweekafterRajivGandhi’sassassinationinMay1991toprobethesecuritylapses;thesecond,ledbyJusticeMilapChandJainandsetupon23August1992,wastolookintothecircumstancesoftheassassinationandtheconspiracyangle—theindictmentsremainedonpaper.

TheJusticeVermaCommissiondescribedthewithdrawalofSPGcoverforRajivGandhias‘unjustified’.ItblamedtheIBfornotkeepingTamilNaduPoliceinformedofthehighthreatperception,andtheTamilNadupoliceforbeingunabletopreventthesuicidebomberfromgettingaccesstotheformerpremier.TheJainCommissionofInquirysetoffafuroreinAugust1997whenits

interimreportwasleaked,threemonthsbeforetheDesignatedTrialCourt’sJudgeNavaneethampronouncedhisjudgmentbasedontheSIT’sfindings.TheJainreportaskedwhytheSIThadnotsufficientlyprobedthenexusbetweentheDMKandtheLTTE;itbroughtuptheroleplayedbythegodmanChandraswami,andimpliedthatIsraeliandUSintelligence—MossadandtheCIA—hadahandinRajivGandhi’sassassination.Twoofthemainaccused,LTTEleaderPrabhakaranandintelligencechief

PottuAmman,wereneverextradited.InsiderstoldmethatPresidentPremadasahadcommunicatedtoIndianofficialsitwouldbedifficulttodelivertheextraditionpaperstotheLTTElairinthenorthasnoonedaredtoenterTigerterritory!NogovernmentinDelhihaspushedforextradition.TheLTTEsupremodied

inahailofbulletswhenhewashunteddowntothemarshylagoonsofNanthikadalinMay2009.Hisarmsprocurer-in-chief—themanwhodeliveredthepartsofthebelt-bombtoRajivGandhi’sassassinsinMadras—KP,continuestobeatlarge.DelhihasnotonceaskedforKP’sextradition,withColombo—andthe

NarendraModigovernment,asstrangelysilentastheprecedingoneunderManmohanSingh—beingprotectiveofthemanwho,manybelieve,wasthekeytoluringtheTigeroutofhislair.WhiletheSriLankangovernmentthrewupitshandsandsaidtherewasno

wayitcouldbring‘Pirabaharan’,nothingwasdonetobringtheothertwomainaccused,hisintelligencechief,PottuAmman,andAkila,thedeputychiefofthefemalewing‘BlackTigresses’,totrialeither.Noonewasprosecuted;nobodywasincarceratedexceptthesevenaccused.WasthereanattempttoensurethattheblamewaslaidonlyattheLTTE’s

door;andthattoo,onlyatthedooroftheseseven?Weretheinvestigators,allofthemcrackpolicemenwhowentbythefactsbeforethem,unabletoseethebig

picture,dismissingthedozensofconspiracytheoriesthatwerefloated—admittedly,mostofitconjecture—backedbylittleornoproof?Kaarthikeyan,whenaskedaboutthedifferingconclusionsheandJusticeJain

haddrawn,hadthistosaytohisinterviewer:‘IfyoufeelthattheLTTEwouldhavedonethisatthebehestofanyoneelse,ifyouthinkthattheLTTEwouldhavedonethisformoney,thenyoudonotknoworunderstandtheLiberationTigersofTamilEelam...’

Thetrialitselfhadbeenrigorouslyconducted.Inthemind-numbingthreeyearsthatthesolesurvivingassassin,Nalini,andherco-conspiratorsfacedjudicialscrutiny,thecourtheardthetestimonyof1044witnesses,ofwhom288wereexamined.Thecourtalsowentthrough1477documentspresentedbytheprosecutionthatraninto10,000pagesandexaminedsome1180piecesofevidence.Thedefencepresentedseventy-fourdocuments.Heldincamera,withonlytworeportersfromtheofficialgovernmentnews

agenciespresenttocovertheproceedings,thefinaljudgmentheldtheaccusedguiltyofthechargesofconspiracy,aswellasoffencesundertheprovisionsofTADA,theExplosiveSubstancesAct,theArmsAct,thePassportAct,theForeignersActandtheWirelessandTelegraphyAct,andalsoundervariousothersectionsoftheIndianPenalCode(IPC).Kaarthikeyansaidhefeltvindicated,thathehadbeenprovedright.‘Justice

hasbeenserved,truthhastriumphed,’hetoldthepressashecameoutofcourtthatday.‘Thenation’sandtheSIT’ssingle-mindedpursuitoftruthstand[s]vindicated,’Kaarthikeyansaid.‘ThecourthasupheldtheSIT’sfindingsandithasbeenprovedthattheIndianpolicearesecondtonone.’Kaarthikeyan’ssatisfactionatajobwelldonecamethroughwhenhetold

FrontlinemagazineinMay1992,soonaftersubmittingthechargesheet:‘Inthefirstsevendaysaftertheassassination,theworldmediaspeculatedwhetherthecrimewouldremainamysteryforever.But,within10dayswefoundsomeslenderclues.Within20dayswemadethefirstarrests—ofBhagyanathanandPadma.Weunearthedsubstantialevidencein60days,wemadeanumberof

arrests.Within90days,wetrackeddownthemainconspiratorsinBangalore.Thecharge-sheetwasfiledsoonafter.’JudgeNavaneetham’sverdictwasinconsonancewiththefindingsof

Kaarthikeyan’sSIT,whichwasevidentfromwhathewouldsaywhiledeliveringthefinaljudgment.‘Inthiscase,RajivGandhi,formerPrimeMinister,wasassassinatedin

pursuanceofadiabolicalplot,carefullyconceivedandexecutedbyahighlyorganizedforeignterroristorganization,theLTTE.Sixteeninnocentliveswerelostandmanysustainedgrievous/simpleinjuries...’JudgeNavaneethamsaid.‘Consideringtheabovecircumstances,IholdthisrarestofrarecaseandI

awardthedeathsentencefor(sic)theaccused,’pronouncedJudgeNavaneetham,addingthat‘fromtheevidence,oralanddocumentary,itwasestablishedbytheprosecutionthattheconspiracywashatchedbyPrabakaran,theLTTEleader.’ThechargesheetfiledbytheSITon22May1992detailedtheeventsthatled

totheassassinationfromJuly1987whentheIPKFlandedinJaffna,SriLanka.Itlistedforty-oneaccused.Oftheforty-one,twelvehaddied—tenofthemwereSriLankans,withthree

declaredproclaimedabsconders.Noneofthefinaltwenty-sixaccusedwhoweregiventhedeathsentenceandwereincustody,weregivenbail.Allwerelodgedinthehigh-securityPoonamalleejail.TheaccusedwhoweredeadincludedDhanu,thesuicidebomber;‘One-Eyed

Jack’aliasSivaresanaliasPakiachandran;Subha,thealternatebomber;thephotographerHaribabu;Nehru,theradiooperator;andthesmugglerShanmugham.Alsodeadweretheotheraccused,theLTTEoperativesimplicatedintheplot,GunduSanthan,SureshMaster,DixonaliasKishore,AmmanaliasGaigaikumar,AnnaaliasKirthiandKamunaaliasJamila.TheLTTE’ssupremoPrabhakaran,intelligencechiefPottuAmmanandthe

women’swingdeputychiefAkilawerethesolesurvivingSriLankanaccused.Theyweredeclaredproclaimedabsconders.Thejudgeannouncedthatthechargeofconspiracyhadbeenprovedagainst

alltheaccused,includingthethirteenIndiansinvolved.Readingoutthejudgmentthroughtheday,andthattooonlythepartsthathe

deemedrelevant,thejudgestatedthatthechargesagainstNalini,AccusedNo.1,andPerarivalan,AccusedNo.18,underIPCSection302,hadalsobeenproved.

ThejudgeheldthatNalini‘sharedthecommonintentiontoassassinateRajivGandhi’andconvictedherunderallsixteencounts.Thelistofchargeswasexhaustive:Nalini,AccusedNo.1,whomarriedAccusedNo.3,Murugan,whiletheywereincustody,waschargedguiltyunderSection3(2)oftheTADAastheassassinationwasaterroristactcommittedonIndiansoil,underSection326oftheIPCforcausinggrievousinjuriestothirteenpeopleandunderSection324forcausingsimpleinjuriestosixpeople;shewasalsofoundguiltyofharbouring,conspiring,abetmentandbeingpreparatorytothecommissioningofaterroristactandofindulginginadisruptiveactunderSection4(3)oftheTADA.Santhan,AccusedNo.2,wasfoundguiltyunderSection3(3)oftheTADA

andSection14oftheForeignersAct.Murugan,AccusedNo.3,wasfoundguiltyunderSection3(3)oftheTADA,

Section14oftheForeignersActandSection6(1)AoftheWirelessandTelegraphyAct.SankaraliasKoneswaran,AccusedNo.4;T.Vijayanandan,AccusedNo.5;

RubanaliasSureshkumar,AccusedNo.6werefoundguiltyunderSection3(3)oftheTADAandSection14oftheForeignersAct.Kanakasabapathy,AccusedNo.7,wasfoundguiltyunderSection3(3)and

3(4)oftheTADA,IPCSection212andSection14oftheForeignersAct.AthiraialiasChandralekha,AccusedNo.8,wasfoundguiltyunderSection

3(4)oftheTADA,IPCSection212andSection14oftheForeignersAct.Perarivalan,AccusedNo.18,allegedtohavepreparedthebelt-bomb,was

foundguiltyunderSection3(3)ofTADA,Section302oftheIPCreadwithSection109oftheIPC(abetment),Sections326and324oftheIPC.Sections6(1)AoftheWirelessandTelegraphyAct,Section12ofthePassportActandSection4(3)readwithSection4(1)oftheTADA.ThechargeagainstPerarivalanwasthathepurchasedtwo9-voltbatterycellstodetonatethebomb.TheothersconvictedwereRobertPayas,AccusedNo.9;Jayakumar,Accused

No.10;J.Shanthi,AccusedNo.11;P.Vijayan,AccusedNo.12;Selvalakshmi,AccusedNo.13;Bhaskaran,AccusedNo.14;ShanmugavadivelualiasThambiAnna,AccusedNo.15;RavichandranaliasRavialiasPrakasam,AccusedNo.16;MaheshaliasSurendran,AccusedNo.17;Irumborai,AccusedNo.19;S.

Bhagyanathan,AccusedNo.20;S.Padma,AccusedNo.21;SundaramaliasSubhaSundaram,AccusedNo.22;K.Dhanasekaran,Rangan,AccusedNo.23;Rangan,AccusedNo.24;VickeyaliasVigneswaran,AccusedNo.25;andJ.Ranganath,AccusedNo.26.JudgeNavaneetham’sstatementincourtdrewontheevidencethatshowed

‘howthehatredthathadbeensowninthemindoftheLTTEsupremoVelupillaiPrabakaran,developedintoamotivetokillRajivGandhi’.ThejudgesaidPrabhakaranhadbeen‘disappointed’duringhisvisittoDelhi,

beforethesigningoftheIndo-SriLankapeaceaccord,whenhefoundthatleadersoftheotherTamilgroupsEPRLF,ENDLF,TELO,PLOTE,EROSandTULFhadalsotakenpartinthemeetingwithRajivGandhiintheIndiancapital,andthatnotonlywastheLTTEnotrecognizedasthesolerepresentativeoftheLankanTamils,itwasalsonotasignatorytotheaccord.ThejudgedidbringuptheroleofTamilpoliticianVaiko,aformerRajya

SabhaMPand,atthetime,amemberoftheDMK,whowouldgoontoheadthebreakawayMarumalarchiDravidaMunnetraKazhagam(MDMK),asitreinforcedthejudge’sconclusionsaboutPrabhakaran’sdisappointment.Avideothatwassubmittedasanexhibitshowsthaton6February1989,

VaikomadeaclandestinetriptoJaffna,wherehemetwiththeLTTEchiefinthejunglesofVavuniya.Theprosecutionhadsubmittedthatin1988VaikohadtoldtheInternationalTamilConferenceinLondonthatPrabhakaranhadspokentohimfromDelhion29July1987,wherehewaskeptisolated,withnoaccesstovisitors.Prabhakaranwouldsaytohimthathehadbeen‘betrayed’bytheGovernmentofIndiaandthathehadbeen‘stabbedinthebackbyRajivGandhi’.WhenVaikowascross-examinedincourt,hedeniedhavingsaidanyofthose

things,butthejudgeconcludedthatthepolitician’sdenialwasfalse,addingthateventhoughthewitnesshadturnedhostile,‘hisevidence...hadtobeaccepted.’‘ItwasatthatpointthattheseedofhatredagainstRajivGandhiwassownin

themindofPrabakaran,’saidthejudge,notingthat,‘thishatredgraduallydevelopedintoanimosityagainstRajivGandhi,inviewoftheeventsthattookplaceaftertheIPKFwasinductedinSriLanka.’

ThejudgealsopointedtotheCongresspartymanifesto—whichspeltoutRajivGandhi’scommitmenttotheJuly1987Indo-SriLankaaccordandhisdesiretoprotecttheterritorialintegrityofSriLanka,whichrancontrarytoPrabhakaran’sgoalofvivisectingtheislandnationandcarvingoutahomelandfortheTamils—ashavingcontributedtothemotivebehindtheconspiracy.TheonlywaytopreventtheIndianleader’sreturntopowerwastoeliminatehim.Interestingly,referringtotheargumentsofthedefencethatmanyother

militantgroupssuchastheULFA,JammuandKashmirmilitantsandPunjabmilitantswereagainstRajivGandhi,JudgeNavaneethamsaidthat‘whileitwastruethattheIndianleaderhadbeenatthereceivingendofthreatsfromseveralmilitantgroupsinIndia,therewasnotaniotaofevidenceavailabletosupportthecontentionthatanyotherforeignelementswereinvolved’.‘Ontheotherhand,thefactsandcircumstanceshaveproved,through

witnessesanddocuments,andclearlyestablishedbeyondanydoubtthat,PrabakaranandtheLTTEalonehadaverystrongmotivetokillRajivGandhi,’thejudgesaid,runningcontrarytotheJainCommissionfindingswhichcentredontheinvolvementof‘foreignelements’.

Death,Life,Freedom

InFebruary1998,thedefencewentinappealtotheSupremeCourtagainsttheconvictionsandthesentences.Buton11May1999,theSupremeCourtupheldthedeathsentenceagainst

fourofthetwenty-sixaccused,ina2-1majorityverdict—Nalini;herhusband,Murugan;Santhan;andPerarivalan—whilecommutingthedeathsentenceagainstthreeoftheaccused,RobertPayas,JayakumarandRavichandran,tolifeimprisonment,andacquittingthenineteenothers,allofwhomwalkedfree.ThebenchcomprisedJusticesK.T.Thomas,D.P.WadhwaandS.S.M.Quadri,

andeachpronouncedaseparateverdict,withthelasttwoconstitutingthemajorityview.WhileJusticeThomasandJusticeQuadriagreedonawardingthedeathsentencetothreeoftheaccused,therewasnoagreementonthesentencetoNalini.

JusticeThomassaid,‘Naliniwasaneducatedwoman’and‘wasanobedientparticipantintheconspiracy,butplayednodominantrole’.Thejudgesaid,‘ShewasbrainwashedbyMuruganandotherstobelievethehorrificstoriesaboutIPKFexcessesinSriLanka,’andhadtoldherbrother,Bhagyanathan,thatsheneverrealizedhowserioustheconspiracywasuntilitwastoolateforhertowithdraw.JusticeQuadri,however,differed.‘Ifthedeathsentenceisnotawardedto

Nalini,whowasawillingparticipantintheconspiracytokill,thenjusticewouldbestunted,’hesaid.JusticeWadhwaagreed,saying,‘ShewasmentallypreparedbyDhanu,

Sivaresan,MuruganandSubhaandshevoluntarilyparticipatedinthedryrunatV.P.Singh’sfunction,heldafewdaysearlier.’BothJusticeWadhwaandJusticeQuadriwereinagreementonawardingthe

deathsentencetoNalini.JusticeThomasobserved,however,that,‘AsMurugan,thefatheroftheir

child,wasawardedthedeathsentence,themother[Nalini]shouldbesavednottomakethechildanorphan.’NalinihadmarriedMuruganwhileinprison,andgivenbirthtoagirlchildin1992.JusticeThomasdividedtheaccusedintofourcategories:thehardcore,those

whoinducedothersintotheconspiracyandplayedanactiverole,thosewhojoinedtheconspiracy,andthosewhoplayedapassiverole.Thejudgesaidalltheaccusedbelongingtothefirstcategory,includingPrabhakaran,wereneverbroughttotrial,becausetheywereeitherdeadorabsconding.‘Thesevenaccusedwhoseconvictionisupheldbelongtothesecond

category,’thejudgeruled.Whileupholdingtheconvictionofthesesevenaccusedonthechargeof

conspiracytomurderRajivGandhiunderSections302and120(B)oftheIPC,thejudgessetasidetheirconvictionundervariousprovisionsoftheTADA.Thejudgesacquittedeighteenoftheremainingnineteenaccusedonthecharge

ofconspiracytomurderRajivGandhi.Theirconvictionforminoroffenceswasupheld,buttheywereorderedtobereleasedforthwith,astheyhadalreadyservedthenecessaryperiodofimprisonment.Oneoftheaccused,S.Shanmugavadivelu,wasacquittedofallcharges.

SenioradvocateN.Natarajan,whoappearedforNalini,Murugan,SanthanandPerarivalan,saidthefouraccusedwouldseekpresidentialmercy.TheywouldalsomovetheSupremeCourttostaythedeathsentenceuntilthePresidentactedontheirmercypetitions,headded.ThefourprisonerswerelodgedinCentralPrison,Vellore.Naliniwasshut

awayinthewomen’swing.

TheSevenLifers

InApril2000,barelytwoyearslater,Nalini’sdeathsentencewascommutedtolifeimprisonment.SoniaGandhi,theCongresspartychairpersonandRajivGandhi’swidow,intervened,asdidtheTamilNadustatecabinet,tomakearecommendationtotheTamilNadugovernorandpubliclypleadforclemency.ThepublicappealbySoniawasmadeonthepremisethatNaliniwasnowa

mother,andbothparentscouldnotbesentencedtodeathasitwouldleavethechildanorphan.On19March2008,seventeenyearsafterherfatherwasslainbyahuman

bomb,RajivandSoniaGandhi’sdaughter,PriyankaGandhiVadra,arrivedatVelloreJailtolayherownpersonalghoststorest.Shewassettomeetface-to-facewiththewomanwhowasthesolesurvivingmemberoftheteamofLTTEassassinswhodidawaywithherfatheronthenightof21May1991onablood-soakedfield,some25kilometresfromChennai.‘Idon’tbelieveinanger,hatredandviolence,’Priyankasaidinherstatement.

‘AndIrefusetoallowittooverpowermylife.’Itwasaprivateaffair,‘apurelypersonalvisitthatIundertookcompletelyon

myowninitiative’,PriyankasaidinthestatementthatwasreleasedafternewsofthemeetingwithNalinileakedtotheIndianpress.‘Iwouldbedeeplygratefulifthiscouldberespected....ItwasmywayofcomingtopeacewiththeviolenceandlossthatIhaveexperienced,’shesaid.

InFebruary2014,theSupremeCourtcommutedthedeathsentenceofthethreemenconvictedofassassinatingRajivGandhitolifeinprison,dismissingthegovernment’sappealthattheeleven-yeardelayindecidingtheirmercypetitionsdidnotentitlethemtoapardon.ThemercypetitionsofSanthan,MuruganandPerarivalanhadbeensenttothe

President,thelaststageintheprocessofappeals,in2000.Whiletheirmercypetitionswererejectedelevenyearslater,theirhangingwasstayedin2011ontheordersofMadrasHighCourt.Threeyearslater,theywerenolongerondeathrow.Freedomforthesethreeandthefourthkiller,Nalini,andthreeothershasbeen

takenupbytheJayalalithagovernmentinTamilNaduand,ateveryturn,itseffortstofreeRajivGandhi’skillershasbeenblockedbytheapexcourt.Indeed,adayaftertheSupremeCourtorder,on19February2014,whenthe

statehadsuomotuorderedthereleaseofallsevenlifeconvicts,theCentrerushedtotheSupremeCourtandstayedtheirrelease.InMarch2016,theTamilNadugovernmentonceagainwroteasimilarletter

totheministryofhomeaffairs,seekingitsopiniononreleasingthesevenconvictsintheRajivGandhiassassinationcase.Thelettersaidthatwhilethestatehadalreadydecidedtoreleasethem,itwasnecessarytoseektheCentre’sopinionunderSection435oftheCodeofCriminalProcedure.ItsaidthattheTamilNadugovernmenthadreceivedpetitionsfromallsevenconvicts—Murugan,Santhan,Perarivalan,Jayakumar,RobertPayas,RavichandranandNalini—requestingthattheybereleasedastheyhadspenttwenty-fouryearsinprison.TheletteralsoreferredtoawritpetitionfiledbyNaliniinMadrasHighCourt

seekingherrelease,notingthatfourofthesevenconvictsareSriLankannationals.InApril2016,theSupremeCourtonceagainrejectedtheproposalofthe

TamilNadugovernment—withoneeyeontheupcomingpollsinMay2016—toreleasethesevenlifers.Theministryofhomeaffairstoldthestatethat‘sincethematterissub-judiceintheSupremeCourt,ithasnoauthoritytoreleasetheprisoners’.

Itwasintherun-uptothecourt’sverdictin1998,however,thatforreasonsthatremainunclear,theCongresspartyandtheGandhifamily,actingeitheronbadadviceorbadjudgement,believedthattheSITandthespeciallydesignatedcourtwerenotmovingfastenough,orintherightdirection,andsupportedtheJainCommission’scriticismoftheSIT’sfindings.TheSITwashuntingdownRajivGandhi’skillers,bringingthemtojusticeandpreparingthecaseagainstthemthatwouldbetriedinthespeciallyDesignatedTrialCourt.Tothem,theJainCommission,setuptoprobetheconspiraciesbehindtheassassination,wasseentobe,astheeminentlawyerA.G.Nooraniputit,‘obstructive’.‘TheJainCommissioncameperilouslyclosetowreckingthetrial,’Noorani

states.‘Sadly,neithertheSupremeCourtnortheDelhiHighCourtcaredtointervene.ThetriumphofjusticewasdueentirelytotheintegrityandindependentspiritofJudgesS.M.SidickkandV.NavaneethamandtothedevotedlaboursoftheSpecialInvestigationTeamoftheCentralBureauofInvestigationheadedbyitsJointDirectorD.R.Kaarthikeyan,whoshowedcourageandhonesty,’saysNoorani.Highpraiseindeed.InAugust1997,aninterimreportbytheJainCommissionwasleaked,kicking

offahugestormandinvitingevenstrongercriticismthatitwasanattempttoprolongthelifeofthecommissionwithfantasticalconspiracytheories.Theseventeen-volume,5000-pagereportwhichhadthetestimonyofsome

110witnesses,unequivocallyandbaldlystatedthatwithouttheDMK’ssupportfortheLTTE,andthe‘deepnexusbetweentheTamilsofSriLankaandIndia’,theassassinationofRajivGandhiwouldnothavebeenpossible.Although,curiously,bythetimethefinalreportwasreleasedinJuly1998,thefindingswerelesssweepingandborelittlerelationtotheinterimreportthathadbeenleaked.TheinterimreporthadblamedprimeministersV.P.Singhand

ChandrashekharfornothavingprovidedenoughsecurityforRajivGandhi.IthaddevotedseveralpagestothegodmanChandraswami,who,JusticeJainbelieves,wasinvolvedinthehigh-profileassassination.ItremainsunexplainedwhyJusticeJainsubmitteda2000-page-longfinalreportthatwatereddownthe

chargemadeinthepreviousyear’sleakedinterimreportagainsttheTamils,tosaythatonly‘afewTamilssupportedtheLTTE’althoughitcontinuedtomaintainthattheSIThadfailedinitsinvestigationasithadnotquestionedtheDMKleaderandTamilNaduchiefminister,M.Karunanidhi,andaministerinhisgovernment,SubbulakshmiJagadeesan,whoallegedlyprovidedrefugetooneoftheaccused,Santhan,inherfarmhouseinCoimbatoreaftertheassassination.ButtressingitsargumentwithreportsbytheSubsidiaryIntelligenceBureau,

theJainCommissionsaidthatduring1989–91,‘TheLTTEhadfertilegroundinTamilNaduduringtheDMKrule.’Italsosaidthattheministryofhomeaffairshadbeenkeptinformedofthe‘materialandmoralsupporttotheLTTEfromDMKsympathisers’.TheJainCommissionreport,madepublicsevenyearsaftertheassassination,

said,‘Onesuchmessage,sentbytheAdditionalDirectoroftheIntelligenceBureau(IB)totheHomeSecretaryonJanuary30,1990states:“TheLTTEhasbeentakingfulladvantageofthesympathiesoftheDMKinTamilNadu...localDMKleadersinthecoastalregionofThanjavurhavealsobeencollaboratingwiththeLTTEintheirillegaltraffickingandactivities...”’ItisforthisreasonthatJusticeJainhefelt‘theTamilNaduChiefMinister,M.Karunanidhishouldhavebeenamongthepoliticians,whowerequestionedbytheSpecialInvestigatingTeam(SIT).Onmanymattershisinterrogationwasquiterelevant.’InJusticeJain’slistofadditionalsuspectswereanothertwenty-onepeople

whom,itsaid,theSITshouldhaveinvestigated.ApartfromthetenIndiansonthelist,henamedelevenSriLankans,includingtheLTTE’sfinancierandarmsbuyerKumaranPathmanathan,‘KP’;itsLondon-basedinternationalspokespersonColKittu;‘Baby’Subramaniam;andMuthuraja.Jainsays,contrarytotheassertion(duringdeposition)ofSITchief

Kaarthikeyanthatthere‘islittlescopeofinvolvementofanyotherpersons’,hisconclusionwasthattheSITshouldhavefiledsupplementarychargesheetsagainsta‘largenumber’ofpersons.(TheCongressparty’sagitation,incidentally,thatusedtheJainCommission

interimreportagainstthethenDMKgovernment,whichwasalliedwithI.K.Gujral’sUnitedFrontgovernmentattheCentre,achieveditsimmediateaim—

topplingtheGujralgovernment—butpavedthewayfortheentryoftheAtalBihariVajpayee-ledBJPgovernmentinDelhi.)Noorani’smaincriticismrestsonthepremisethatJusticeJain,inpursuing

‘theconspiracytheory’,wassimplygrabbingatstraws.‘ThechargesheetrestedsquarelyonaconspiracybytheLTTE.Independentjournalisticinvestigationsupportedthecharge.Internationalperceptiondidnotdiffer.PresidentChandrikaKumaratungapubliclyblamedtheLTTE,’hesaid.Yet,JusticeJainbelievedtherewasmoretotheassassinationthantheLTTE.Thepremiseofthetwocommissionsofinquirydiffered.AsNooraniwritesin

FrontlineinFebruary1998,‘WhiletheJainCommission,setupon23August1992,hadonemainremit,theconspiracyaspect,whichJusticeJ.S.Vermahadrefusedtoaccept...JusticeVermaconfinedhisinquiry,setuponMay27,1991,tosecurityfailuresalone,personalorsystemic.’NooranisaysJainwasdirectedtoinquireinto‘thesequenceofeventsleadingto,andallthefactsandcircumstancesrelatingtotheassassinationofMrRajivGandhiatSriperumbudur(otherthanthematterscoveredbythetermsofreferencefortheCommissionheadedbyJusticeVerma)’.Inparticular,Nooranistates,thecommissionwasenjoinedtoinquire‘whetheronepersonorpersonsoragencieswereresponsibleforconceiving,preparingandplanningtheassassinationandwhethertherewasanyconspiracyinthisbehalfand,ifso,allitsramifications’.‘Forsuchaninquirytodeclareopenseasononluridconspiracytheorieswas

tocastaspersionsonthechargesheet,’Nooraniadded.Thequestionis—didit?SITinvestigatorRagothamanaddsacurious—andtroubling—newcharge.He

saysthatfortheLTTE,thiswastheperfectscenarioas,bylaw,theycouldnotbechargedbytwocourts,inthiscasetheDesignatedTrialCourtandtheJainCommissionofInquiryfindingswhentheyweresubmitted.IftheJainCommissionwhichwasdemandingaccesstoallthelettersanddocumentsthattheSIThad,foundoneoftheLTTEaccusednotguilty,thenthespecialcourtcouldnotholdthemorchargethem.Ragothamansaidthatlawyersfortheaccused,andMuruganandtheother

LTTEaccused,becamesupremelyconfidentandcametobelievethattheSITandtheJainCommissionwouldcanceleachotheroutandtheywouldsoonwalkfree.

Infact,asNooraniexplains,atrialandaninquirycanproceedsimultaneously.‘Butaheavyonusliesonthejudgeholdingtheinquirytoensurethatthetrialproceedingsareneitherobstructed,whetherbyseekingitsrecordsorotherwise,norprejudiced.’Nooranisaidthatastheheadofthepanelprobingtheconspiracyangleofthe

assassination,JusticeM.C.Jain,inannouncingthattheJainCommissionhaddecidedtoformitsowninvestigatingteamtoevaluatethefindingsoftheCBI’sSITintheRajivGandhicaseandsearchforfurtherevidenceifnecessary,‘threatenedtheorderlycourseandintegrityofthetrialproceedings’.Jainaskedthehomeministrytoprovidehimwithaparticularinspector

generalintheCBI,fluentinTamil,fortheassignment.‘TheIGwillgoafterleadsmissedbytheSIT.TheCommissionwillexaminetheentireSITmaterialandverifyitscorrectness,’JusticeJaintoldtheIndianExpressin1992.‘UndertheIGwillbeateamofinvestigatingofficials.’ThecommissionwouldsitinjudgementontheSIT’sinvestigationsaswellasdrawonitslabours.Nooranisaysthis‘brazenlyviolatedtheCommissionsofInquiryAct,1952,

andestablishedprecedents’.Threeyearslater,inanordermadeon28December1995thatwasinflagrantbreachoftheCommissionsofInquiryAct,Jainassertedthat‘theCommissionisentitledtoknowastohowandinwhatmannertheSITproceededwiththeinvestigation.Itisonlyafterlookingintotherecord—suchasthecasediarybeforetheDesignatedCourt—thattheCommissionwouldbeabletoknowastowhatleadshavenotbeeninvestigatedandinvestigationofwhatleadshasnotbeencompleted,whoarethesuspectsandwhatevidenceisavailableagainstthem...’Inotherwords,aparallelinvestigationandaparallelcourt.InPoonamalleecourtjail,theLTTEinmateswerecertainitwouldonlybea

shortwhilebeforetheycouldallgohome.HowfaroffthemarkwasJusticeJainontheconspiracytheory?Inacuriouscontradiction,littleknownandneverreported,isthefascinating

storybehindtheexitofGopalSubramaniam,who,actingascounsel(in1991–92)tothejudicialcommissionheadedbyJusticeVermatoinquireintosecuritylapsesleadingtotheassassination,quitafterlawyersclosetoSoniaGandhiadvisedhimtosteerclearofconspiracytheories.

ThehastewithwhichSivaresan’sbodywascremated—undertightsecurityatBangalore’sWilsonGardencrematoriumon3September1991—andthemannerofhisdeath,abullettohisheadratherthancyanide,onlyfuelledthecover-uptheory.ThiswasmadeworsewhenalocalCongressfunctionaryclosetotheLTTE,Shanmugham,wasfoundhangingfromatree,whileinSITcustody.TheSITwasaccusedofsilencinghim.Whenweighedinthebalance,theJainCommissionandtheSITheadedby

KaarthikeyancorrectlydeducedthattheassassinationwasthehandiworkofPrabhakaran.Buttheyfailedtosquelchspeculation,then,asmuchasnow,thattherecouldbemore.

8TheLostLegacy

WHEREONCETHEREWEREONLYthewalkingwounded,emptystreets,grimfacesandbombed-outbuildings,thereistraffic!AndithasbeenbroughttoacompletestandstillinJaffnathismorningasschoolchildrenincrispwhite-and-blueuniformsmarchby,ledbyyouthfulteachers,yellingoutlustilyinacelebrationofBoyScoutsDay.Theyoung!Inacitythatoncehidawayanyyoungperson—manorwoman—

whocouldbeforciblyrecruitedbytheTigers.EightyearsofanuneasypeacewithouttheTigerimprimatur;almosttwenty-

fiveyearssinceoneoftheirownhadRajivGandhikilledincoldblood.ThisisaJaffna,theoncenotionalcapitalofTamilEelam—andIndia’sVietnam—thatisinthethroesofacompletemakeover.Thecagey,shifty-eyedtrishawdriversinscruffydhotis,theTigers’self-

appointedsecretservice,whoonceownedthemainstreetandopenlygrilledyou—andeverynewcomer—arelonggone.‘Youdon’tlookTamil,howdoyouknowTamil?’wouldbethefirstsalvoas

theyveeredoffthepathtoshowyouthehomeofLTTEcommanderPottuAmman’sgirlfriendasonedriverdidwhenIwasthereinthelate1990s.Morepointedly,oncetheyknewyouwereanIndian,theywouldtakevicariouspleasureindrivingyoupastPrabhakaran’shideoutinJaffnaUniversityfromwheretheLTTEchief’sperfectlypositionedmachinegunshadblowntheIndianArmy’sheli-bornetroopsoutofamoonlitsky.Lastbutnotleast,youwouldbeshowntheJaffnanative’sbiggestbugbear,the

Buddhistviharas,thetemplesthatmarkthefootprintoftheSriLankanarmy—

anenduringimprintofSinhalachauvinism,anoldwoundthateatsawayattheTamiltothisday.ThetrishawdriverIhirefromthesurprisinglywell-organizedtaxirinkin

October2015,whotakesmetomyhotel,sonewthatevenhehasn’theardaboutit—nexttothespankingnewrailwaystationthatIndiahasrebuilttoreconnectthenorthtocitiesinthesouth—hasawholenewtargetforhisgripe.Itisn’ttheSriLankansoldierswhohaveescortedusintothecityfromthePalalyairbase.OrIndia.OrRajivGandhiwhommostLankanTamils,likethecurrentmemberoftheProvincialCouncil,thehighlyvocalAnanthiSasitharan,blameforintroducingtheiryoungtothecultureofviolencethatwreckedtheirlives.HereserveshisvenomforJaffna’spoliticalclassthathasn’tliveduptoitspromises.It’satnightthatyougetaglimpseofthedramaticdawnthatisathand.No

longertheghostcityofdesertedstreetsandlongshadowsthatitoncewas,atsundown,theyoung,cladinhipT-shirtsandjeanstakeover,whizzingpastonmotorbikes,doingwheeliesonnewlytarredroads,pasthomesthatarebeingreconstructed.Mytaxidriver,Rajiv—afairlycommonnameintheseparts—isbarelyoutof

histeensandalreadytheownerofacar.Hesays,withoutbattinganeyelidashedropsmeoffat9p.m.,thathewillcomebackformebymidnight,asifthisisallparforthecourse!AtHotelTilko’sopen-airrestaurantwhereIamsettohavedinnerwith

Jaffna’slarge-heartedsurgeonDrRaviPerumpillai—whomovedbackfromLondonsoonaftertheTigerdebacletosetupthecity’sfirstsurgicalheartunithere—thereisloudmusic...andalcohol.ThepuritanicalwaysofthePrabhakaranerawereclearlyatanend.ThebounceratTilkooverseeingtheyouthfulexuberanceofthepost-LTTEera

is,infact,ahulkingseven-foot-somethingformerTamilTiger.DrPillaitellsmehisnewcook-cum-housekeeperonceservedwiththeLTTE.‘Allmynursesatthehospitalarealsoex-LTTE.Theydon’thaveformaltraining,whichtheyaregettingnow,buttheyhavesomethingrarer—on-the-fieldtraining,’saidthesurgeon.JaffnaFort,framedinthemoonlight,isnolongeraSriLankanarmyfortress,

butlitup—thePortuguese-builtcitadelisprimedforatransformationintoa

touristhubwithamakeoveronthelinesofGalleFortandColombo’sstunningIndependenceMemorialhall.TheJaffnaFootballStadiumwhereanall-Lankafootballtournamentis

underwayisbeingspeedilyrenovatedunderthesupervisionoftheIndianconsulate—theonlyforeignmissionhere—atacostofRs7.1crore,aheadofavideoinaugurationbyIndianPrimeMinisterNarendraModiinJune2016.ItwillbenamedafterDuraiappah,thefirstmayorofJaffna,whowasPrabhakaran’sfirst‘kill’.Untilrecently,italsoheldthegrislyremainsofamassgrave.FewoftheTamilteenagersplayingatthestadiumnowwillrecallthebloodspilledontheseverysamegrounds—bytheLTTEandbyRajivGandhi’sIPKFnearlythirtyyearsago.Eversincethegunsfinallyfellsilentin2009,aclutchofdoctorssuchasDr

Pillai,healthworkers,intellectuals,hoteliersandrestaurateurs,eventravelagentsandcorporates,manyfundedbytheTamildiaspora,havefloodedbackinandsimplytransformedtheJaffnaofold.Therearereportsofthere-emergenceofareligiousright,aconservative

backlashagainstthegrowingdrugcultureandpromiscuity,virtuallynon-existentunderPrabhakaran’sdiktat.Yet,Jaffna,oncesotightlywound,exudesforthefirsttimetheflavourofa

freewheelingtown.Nolongerthegrim,joylessplaceitoncewas,Jaffna’smosthearteningsoundtodayisthatofpeoplelaughing—outloud.

AnyregretovertheIndianpremier’sassassinationthatistrottedoutwhenonesteerstheconversationinthatdirection,toremindthemthatitwasRajivGandhiwhofirstcametotheirrescue,isatbestperfunctory,embarrassed.Theassassinationwasablunder,yes.Andashock,theysay.Asthevenerable

RajavarothiamSampanthan,whoheadsthemoderateTamilNationalAlliance(TNA)andistheleaderoftheOppositioninParliament,emotionallyadmits,‘WefeelanenormoussenseofregretandsadnessthatRajivGandhiwaskilledbyaTamilsuicidebomber.Imethiminnumerabletimes,tryingtofindawayforourpeopletogettheirrightfulplaceinSriLankansociety,andhewasalwayssupportive.Itwasahugeshock.Itsimplyshouldnothavehappened.’

Butformostothers,itwasnothingmorethanoneofmanydeathsinaseaofassassinationsthatbecamepartoftheirblood-soakedhistory.IthasbeenalmostthirtyyearssincetheyoungmeninAnanthi’sown

neighbourhoodtookuparms,butshereserveshermosttrenchantcriticismfortheIndianleaderswhoshebelieveswerebehindtheupheaval—IndiraGandhiandRajivGandhi.Shesaysthatasasixteen-year-old,longbeforetheIPKFwasevendeployed

inthenorth,shewitnessedtheradicalizationofyoungTamilsbytheIndians.‘TheSriLankanarmywasroundingupallTamilyouthwhowerecriticalofthegovernment,andyes,theofficerstargetedalltheyounggirls,includingmanylikeme,comingtoourhomesanddemandingourpresenceintheirbarracks.Manyofusranaway.Butthepeoplewhoputgunsinthehandsofouryoungmen,whountilthenonlyknewalifeofbooksanddebates,wereyourleaders.IndiraGandhiandRajivGandhi.Theytaughtthemhowtofight,howtouseguns.Beforethat,wedidn’tknowthefirstthingaboutwar.AndthenRajivsentintheIndianArmytofightourpeople,whentheyshouldhavehelpedustofighttheSriLankaArmy.Thiswasthegreatbetrayal.Howcanweforgivethat?’sheasks.Ananthi’sistheprevailingviewofIndianinvolvementintheLankanTamils’

battleforsurvivalagainsttheSriLankaArmyinthecitiesofthenorththatarestilllivingontheknife-edgeofanunlikelypeace.Theunpleasanttruth—Rajiv’sinterventionwouldnotearnhimthegratitude

oftheJaffnaite,eventhoughhedidsointheirname.Today,barelyanyoneremembersthatitwasthesiegeoftheircitybytheSriLankaArmyinJune1987thatwouldbepivotalintheIndianprimeminister’sdecisiontoradicallyshiftthegoalpostsonSriLankaandgofromneutralinterlocutortoTamilsaviourofsorts.AfterthebombingofJaffna,adeliberateprovocationbytheJayewardene

government,theIndianprimeministerinitiallytriedtomediatebetweenthetwowarringsides.Therulesofthegamechangedwhen,underDelhi’swatchfuleye,Colombo—whichhadbeenbeefingupitsarmedforcesthrough1985–86—launchedOperationLiberation,sending4000SriLankansoldiersintoJaffnacity,roundingup3500youngTamilsandbombingLTTEhideouts.AsciviliansfloodedtosafehavensacrossthePalkStrait,therewasanoutcryinTamilNadu.

ThedomesticfalloutforcedRajivGandhitorethinkhishithertohands-offpolicy,ashisownIntelligenceBureauwarnedofaTamilbacklashagainstthecentralgovernment’sperceivedinaction.AsattemptsatatruceflounderedinthefaceofJayewardene’scontinuingcrackdownontheLTTE,RajivGandhiledIndiaintothefirstdirectinterventioninSriLankanaffairs.TheKachchativustandofflastedforbarelyfourhourson2June1987,until

theSriLankannavyescortedtheflotillaofnineteenunarmedIndianboatsloadedwithfoodandmedicinesforthebesiegedpeopleofJaffnaoutofSriLankanwaters.TheIndianNavywaspositionedominously,barely30kilometresaway,ininternationalwaters.Withinforty-eighthours,RajivGandhiwoulduptheante.AfterwarningtheSriLankanhighcommissionerinDelhi—amerehourbeforetheIndianAirForce(IAF)squadrontookofffromYelahankaairbaseinBangalore—ofmilitaryretaliationiftheywerethwartedagain,hefollowedupSriLanka’snavalblockadewithOperationPoomalai,aprovocativeairdropofsuppliesoverJaffnabytheIAFon4JunethatColomboprudentlychosenottochallenge.Ashowofforce,itwasonly25kgofsupplies,airdroppedafewmilesfrom

Jaffna.Itwasbarelyenoughtofeedahandfuloffamilies.Butinstrategicterms,theJaffnasiegewastheclosestthatIndiaandSriLankacametoanall-outwar,untilthefamedstandoffin1990betweenSriLankanPresidentPremadasaandIndia’sIPKFGOC-in-C,Gen.Kalkat,whenIndiawasaskedtowithdrawitstroopsorbeseenasenemycombatants.TheairdropwasRajivGandhi’ssignaltotheJayewardenegovernmentthat

theilltreatmentofSriLankanTamils—adomestichotpotato—coupledwiththebiggerissue,challengingIndia’swritinitsownbackyard,wouldcomeataprice.India,on4June1987,officiallycharged‘theGovernmentofSriLankawithdenyingthepeopleofJaffnatheirbasicrights’,sayingthatIndiacouldnotremain‘indifferentspectatorsashundredsofciviliansdiedandmanymorefacedstarvation’.Withinsixtydays,however,despitebeingtheonlyIndianleaderto‘fight’fortherightsoftheLankanTamilsbyputtingIndianbootsontheground,hewouldearntheimplacablehatredoftheColomboeliteandtheonlyLankanTamilheleftoutofthepeacedeal.Inacityinuredtomorethanthirtyyearsofbloodlettingandwar,andbrought

uponadietofunadulteratedTigerpropaganda,it’snosurprisethatnobodyin

theJaffnaoftodaycan—orwill—recalltheeventswithanyclaritybeyondthesatisfactionthatSriLanka—andtheTamilTigers—gaveRajivGandhi’sIndiaabloodynosewhenheshiftedgearsagain,abandoningtheLTTEandgoingbacktodoingbusinesswithColombo.

RajivGandhi,ArchitectofDevolution

NotmanyinSriLanka’snorthcaretorememberthatthemuch-touteddevolutionofpowertotheTamilsworkedintotheIndo-SriLankaagreementofJuly1987,andonceagaincentraltotheTamils’questforequalrights,wasRajivGandhi’sbrainchild.FirstincorporatedintheIndo-SriLankaAccordsignedbyRajivGandhiand

Jayewardeneon29July1987,the13thAmendmenttotheConstitutionofSriLankawaspassedon14November1987.TheProvincialCouncilsAct,passedbytheParliamentalongsidethe13thAmendment,legalizedtheestablishmentofprovincialcouncils,thedevolutionofpowertothem,andthemergeroftheNorthernandEasterncouncils,whiledeclaringSinhalaandTamilasthenationallanguagesandretainingEnglishasthelinklanguage.Infact,RajivGandhi,movedmorebyreasonsofgeopoliticsthanjust

sympathyfortheSriLankanTamils,wasthefirstforeignleadertoweighinonthesideoftheTamilsaftertheSriLankangovernment,in1974,passedlawsthattheTamilminorityperceivedasdiscriminatory.ThesizeableTamilminority—roughly11percentofthe20millionSri

Lankans—hadbegunapeaceful,democraticpushforgreaterautonomywhichwasdeemedunconstitutionalthroughthe6thamendmentoftheSriLankanConstitutionin1983.ThedevolutionthatRajivGandhibackedwouldbecomeadeeplydivisiveand

contentiousissue.ItwasseenbyboththemoderatesandSinhalachauvinistsasagrossinterferenceinLankanaffairsbecauseitsoughttogivetheTamilpeopleastatusequaltothatoftheSinhalamajority,andnogovernmentinColombowaswillingtofullyimplementitsprovisions.

Thefoot-draggingbytheJayewardenegovernmentoverimplementingthe13thAmendmentwouldalienatetheTamilsfurther.LTTEchiefPrabhakarancleverlytappedintothedeepdisillusionmentofthehighlyerudite,aspirationalTamilpopulacewithColombo’scontinueddiscriminationtobuildsupportforhisownviolent,secessionistmovement.SupportforPrabhakaranwasunwaveringevenwhenitcametothemost

dastardlyLTTEcriminalityofall,theforciblerecruitmentofboysandgirlsaschildsoldiers.Intheearlydays,andunliketheotherseparatists,thegroupledbyPrabhakaran—whoprojectedhimselfasthesaviour,theonlyleaderwhocoulddelivertheTamilsfromSinhaladuplicity—drewtheangryTamilstothemindroves.ManywererelativesofPrabhakaranhimselfandcamefrominandaroundthevillagesofVelvettithurai,hishometown.ThedrawoftheLTTEwassuchthatitattractedboththeeducatedandthe

uneducated,thetillersaswellastheteachers,andhundredsofyoungpeoplebarelyoutoftheirteens.AtleastathirdoftheTigers,recruitedforciblyorotherwise,comprisedyounggirlsandwomen,withcloseto6000ofthesefemalesoldiersdyinginbattle.ButastheLTTEgrewintoastatusquopowerthatranasupremelyefficient,

defactopolicestateinthenorthandtheeastofSriLanka,therewasaconcomitantdropinthenumbersgravitatingtowardstheTigerarmy.Forciblerecruitmentbecametheorderoftheday,andheadingthedrivetomakeupfortheshortfallintheTigers’lowerrankswasaflamboyantLTTEcommandercalledEllilan,whoallegedlystruckterrorintheheartsofordinaryTamilswhenhecameknockingontheirdoors,askingfortheirchildren.ButsaythattothepostergirlfortheLTTEremnants,andshe’llhavenoneof

it.AnanthiisEllilan’swife,thefaceandvoiceofmanywhohaveallbutgivenuphopeofeverfindingthe‘disappeared’.TheTamils’complicatedlove-haterelationshipwiththeLTTEwasoverlaid

withanundercurrentoffearandresentmentthatripplesthrougheveryinteractionwithoutsiders,beitSinhalaorIndian.LankanTamilshalfrelishedthattheyfinallyhadafightingforcetostanduptotheSinhalamajority,butitwasaFaustianbargain.Honourandself-prideinreturnforblood,gutsandsacrifice.

FreeJaffna

In1998,aspartofagroupofinternationaljournalistsinvitedbytheSriLankangovernmenttotakeatourof‘freeJaffna’,IgotatasteofwhatitwasliketoliveundertheSriLankanjackbootand,atthesametime,thewatchfuleyeoftheTigers.OnehadtotakeflightsoperatedbytheSLAF,fromtheRatmalanaairbaseinColombo,sittingcheekbyjowlwithSriLankanmilitarypersonnelwhowereflyingouttorelievethosestationedinandaroundthePalalyairbase.TherunwaywasareminderofthemostrecentbattleforJaffna;itwasso

pittedandcrateredthatweskitteredacrossonlandingandtake-off.Anairbaseandacity16kilometresapart,conjoinedbyanuneasypeace.SriLankanforceshadevictedeverysinglevillagerfromhomesandfarmswithina16-kilometreradiusofPalaly.Thedirtroadwasflankedbyhomeafteremptyhome,abandonedcattlesheds,schoolbuildingswiththeirroofsandwallsblownoff,tinyteashops,toddyoutletsthatmusthaveoncedonethrivingbusiness.Itwasnoman’sland—barrenfieldslayuntended,overgrown,ringedwithpalmyratreesandthedense,lushgreeneryofacountrysidethatmusthaveoncesustainedabustlingcommunity;theoncewell-offresidentsherdedintowhatwerelittlemorethanslumsintheheartofJaffna.Igotastarksenseofwhatitmusthavefeltliketobeinthecrosshairsofthe

LTTEandtheIPKFwhenthebustakingustoJaffnacitydroppedusrightinfrontoftheJaffnaTeachingHospital.Thebuildingstillborethescarsoftheso-called‘Diwalidayshootout’bytheIndianArmyondoctors,patientsandstaff,allinuniform,on21October1987.AnattackwhichtheIndianArmyjustifiedclaimingitwasretaliatoryfire.TheLTTE,itwouldlateremerge,hadallegedlysentsomeofitswoundedtobetreatedhere.Someelevenyearslater,thehospitalwasteemingwithpatients,mostly

womenandchildren.Thefewmenwereeitheroldorwounded,manywithprostheticlimbs,butwithaneruditionthatcamethroughevenduringthebriefestofinteractions.WealthyTamilsfromanerathatpredatedanLTTE-dominatedJaffnahad

alwayspridedthemselvesontheeducationprovidedbythemissionarieswho

hadsetupschoolsandcollegesacrossthecountrysome250yearsago.ThatledtoawholegenerationofprominentLankanTamilsbeingeducatedherebeforegoingabroadtotheUKandtheUSforhigherstudies.TheJaffnatheyleftbehindremainedinextricablytiedwiththemanyTamil

movements,thealphabetsoupofparties,thatcameuptochallengeColombo’sdominance.Ultimately,ofcourse,theLTTEemergedasthepre-eminentvoiceforTamilnationalismafterthePrabhakaran-ledgroupdecimatedandbrutallysilencedTamilmoderates,justifyingextremeviolenceasthemeanstoanend.AsanoldLankahandtoldme,‘InIndia,ifyoudisagree,theyvoteyouout.In

Lanka,theyjustkillyou...’Inthishighlypoliticizedcitywhereeveryoneisanexpert,thebloodletting

eversincethemajoritarianversusminoritypoliticstookholdturnedevenmild-manneredacademicsintogun-totingTamilseparatists.Asanyonewithlinkstotheviolentseparatistswastargeted,takenawayat

randomforquestioningorsimplyeliminated,alienatedTamilssympathetictothecauseweredrawntothosewhoposedastheirsaviours.TheLTTE’scommitmenttoandfierceavowaloftheTamilcause—morethantheotherseparatistgroupswhowereaccusedofstrikingside-dealswithColomboandDelhi—ensuredthePrabhakaran-led‘nationalists’wouldriseinprominencetobecomethebulwarkoftheresistance.Indrawingonanempatheticpopulacethatwouldbecometheireyesandears,andheedtheirdiktat,avastintelligence-gatheringnetworkwascreated,whichwouldundermineeveryoutsideforcethatattemptedtosubjugateit.Yet,onecouldneverbesureiftheJaffnaTamil—thenasmuchasnow—was

anenthusiasticsupporterwhowholeheartedlybackedtheviolentmeansadoptedbytheLTTEintheirquestforEelam,orifhesimplyplayedalong,lookingallthewhileoverhisshoulder,worriedthatheandhisfamilywouldnotbeabletododgetheLTTEbulletunlesshedidwhatwasaskedofhim.Wastheviolence,theheartbreakoflosinglovedonesandtheirbrokenhomes

worthit,onehadwonderedthen—asonedoesnow—becausethecommunityhadcometorealizethatthequidproquoofsuchaforcemultiplierwasthatawholegenerationoftheyounghadnorealfutureexcepttotakeuparms.Clearly,thiswaswhyfamilieswhocouldaffordtosmuggletheirchildrenout,didsoat

greatcost,butthepoorersectionshadlittlechoicebuttostayandfaceconscription.ThiswasbroughthomeasIwanderedaroundthatmorningandprocessedthe

miserythathunglikeapallofgloomoverthehospital.UntilthenIhadonlyheardofchildsoldierswhich,manysaid,wasmeregovernmentpropaganda.AsIwastheonlyTamil-speakingjournalistinthatgroup,thewomenintheJaffnaTeachingHospitalopeneduptomethatday.Nonewouldsharehername,buteveryoneofthemspokeofhowtheyhadquietlymovedtheirchildrenout,asanychild,boyorgirl,betweentheagesofthirteenandeighteenwasfairgameforLTTErecruiters.IftheLTTEfoundout,retaliationwouldbeswiftandbrutal,theysaid.Iftheboyhadbeensentabroad,thegirlwouldbeforcedtotakehisplace.Onewomansaidtome,loweringhervoice,‘Canyouseeasinglechild,a

singleteenageronthestreet?’Ilookedaround,andrealizedshewasright.‘There’snomanaboveeighteenandnomanbelowthirtyhere,andnogirls,noyoungwomen.Nobody’ssafe.Weareacityofoldpeople,’shesaid.‘ThePulikal(Tigers)wanttosaveus—that’swhytheyhaveleftJaffna.But

theyhaven’treallyleft,sowearewatchedbyeveryone—thegovernmentandtheTigers,’saidanotherwoman,urgingmetoleave,worriedtheywouldattractattention.TheBishopofJaffna,shelteringhundredsoffamiliesinthesprawling

bishopricwasequallycagey.WhenaskedifthereturntoJaffnawasanindicationthatthepeoplehadgrownwearyoftheLTTEandwerevotingwiththeirfeet,thebishophadmequicklyusheredoutofthepremisesratherthanbepinneddownonwherehestoodvis-à-vistheTigers.TheholdthattheLTTEhadoverthepeople,amixofadmirationandfear,was

bestillustratedwhenthegrim-facedownerofahotelwhereIstayedonasubsequentvisittoJaffnatrottedouttheLTTElinethatundertheTigers,womenwerecompletelysafe,evenashequietlyaskedmetolockmydoorthatnight!InKilinochchi,aheadofaninterviewwithS.P.Thamilchelvam,theLTTE

politicalideologue,adecadelater,Inotedthatthemindsethadn’tchanged.MyLTTEmindertriedtolockmeintomyroomatStTheresa’sConvent,astone’sthrowfromtheLTTEheadquarters.Ipersuadedhimtogivethekeyback,sayingIwasclaustrophobic,andpromisedhimIwouldn’tventureout.Laterthatnight,

IbrokethatpromiseasIwoketoarumbleonthedarkmainstreetinanotherwisedeathlyquiettown,andsteppedouttoseetanksandtruckstowingtwofighterplanes.ItwasonlywhenthenewlyformedAirTigersbombedColomboinApril2009thatIrealizedwhathewastryingtopreventmefromseeing.MyLTTEminderwasthemediain-chargeDhayaMaster,whowouldbe

broughtinbytheSriLankaArmytoidentifyPrabhakaran’sbullet-riddledbodywhenhewasfoundinNanthikadalinMay2009.In2015,herefusedtoansweranyquestionsonwhereheandotherLTTEremnantsstood.

ATamilTorn

ThedichotomythatcharacterizedtheTamilpsychewhentheLTTEchief’swritranherecouldbeputdowntoapeoplebidingtheirtimeuntilthePrabhakaraneraended,andwithit,thegunsandviolenceandsuicidebombsquads.Theymayhavehadenoughofallowingoneforcetodictatehowtheymustthink,actandfeel.Didtheyeverfeeltrapped,unabletoescapethewrathofamanwhoclaimedtospeakforthembutneverletthemspeaktheirmind,allthewhiledoggedbyastatethatsawthemasthefifthcolumnfortheirembraceoftheLTTE’sbrandofterror?C.V.K.Sivagnanam,thechairmanofthenewlyelectedNationalProvincial

Council,hadnoqualmsatallinstandingupstronglyforPrabhakaranwhenIaskediftheTamilpeoplearerelievednowthathe’sgone.‘WithouttheLTTE,wewouldhavehadnobodytofightfortherightsoftheTamilpeople.’ThiswasafullyearafterlandmarkelectionsempoweredTamilpoliticianswhohaddisavowedtheirtiestothemilitantseparatists.Indicatingthattheoppositesentimentprevailed,hesaidthattheTamilpeople

owedtheLTTEchiefahugedebtofgratitude.‘Weowehim.Prabhakaranistheonlyonewhowaswillingtostandupforourrightsasequalcitizensofthiscountryandwhenthatfailed,fightforthecause,fightforTamilEelamandnotcompromiseonthatstand.That’swhyTamilswillnevercriticizehim,wecouldneverdothat.’

TheRajivGandhilegacy—theconstitutionalroutetoequality—stoodfornoughtaroundthedinnertablethatnightinJaffnaasnoonedisagreedontheviolentmethodsthatwereembracedbytheradicalizedTamil.Avirtualwho’swhoofJaffna’sbrainstrust,politiciansandbusinessmen,theyhadallatonetimeortheotherinteractedwiththeTigersupremoashegrewfromheadingoneofmanygroupsthatcameuptocounterColombo,tohelmingtheonlygroupthatmattered.Prabhakaran,thevirtualmessiah,hisrushtomegalomanianeverchallenged.

PrabhakaranLegateesRejectedbyElectorate

WasSivagnanam’sthepopularview?PostthePrabhakaranera,aclutchofmoderatepoliticalpartiessuchastheumbrellaIlankaiThamilArasuKatchi(ITAK)hasrisenanewfromtheashesoftheLTTE,bringingtogetherLTTEremnantsandpro–LTTE-leaningpoliticians,likeGajanPonnambalamoftheTamilNationalPeople’sFront(TNPF).WhilemanyolderSriLankanTamilswhohadpanderedtotheLTTE’s

militaristicpoliticalordercontinuetoholdacandleforPrabhakaran,therearemanywhobelieveinaunitarySriLankaandwantthecurrentprocesstogoforward.TheseTamils,outsidethecharmedcircleofPrabhakaranandhishand-pickedcommandersandtheirfamilies,survivedthewaryearsbystayingwellbelowtheradaraspowershiftedbackandforthbetweentheTigersandthearmy,andasthecitychangedhandsoverthirtyyearsintheoftenfutileandbloodytugofwarbetweenthesecessionistsandthosewhobelievedinfederalfreedoms.JaffnaTamilswithahistoryofstaunchanti-Sinhalaactivism,like

Ponnambalam,forinstance,havemadeaconsciousdecisiontopaperoverthedisquietthattheyarebacktobeingsecond-classcitizensafterthreedecadesoffightingforself-rule.TheweaponsPonnambalamusestodaymightbedifferent,fallingbackontheConstitutionandtherighttodissentratherthanPrabhakaran.Butinaclearmessagethattimeswerechanging,Ponnambalam’sparty,the

TNPF,wasrejectedbytheelectorateinthe2015electionsforattemptingtonailitsflagtotheLTTE.TheTNPF’smainelectoralplankwasacalltorejecttheRajapaksa

government’sdivisionofthenorthandtheeast.ThiswasdonebytheSriLankanPresidentwhentheNorth-EasternProvincewasde-mergedin2007,followingacourtverdictthatrejectedJayewardene’s1988proclamationofamergeraspartoftheRajiv–Jayewardeneaccord.RajapaksealsowatereddownthepowersgiventothenewlycreatedNorthernProvincialCouncil,placingthepoliceandthecourtsunderColombo’sjurisdiction,insteadofimplementingthefull-fledgeddevolutionthathadbeenpromisedundertheaccord.Butinasignofthetimes,apoliticalpartylikePonnambalam’staggedtoPrabhakaran,howeverwell-meaningitsintent,foundnotakers.Ponnambalamstillhankersaftertheunfulfilledpromiseofthe13th

Amendment.‘Wewillfightuntilwegetajointnorth-eastprovincialcouncil,notthistruncatedonewherethenorthandtheeasthavebeendivided,aswellasfulldevolution.DoyouknowthateventhedevolutionthatwaspromisedbytheIndo-SriLankanagreementbyRajivGandhidoesnotgofarenough?Ihavealwaysarguedagainstitinthatform,’heinsists.InthenorthernswatheoftownsandvillageswheretheneedsoftheTamil

individualhadforsolongbeensubsumedbythePrabhakaran-runTamilstate,theanger,resentmentandshockatthecomprehensivedefeatoftheirforcesandthemanneroftheimplosion,havegivenwaytoagrudgingacceptancethatwhilefatemayhavedealtthemalowblow,allhasnotbeenlost.Itwasuptothemtomakethebestofitandtakeanothershyattheearlieryenforparliamentarydebateandtheruleoflaw.Thebiggestchangeintheonceembattlednorthistheopen,thrustingdebate

onthestreetsandinhomesaboutTamilrightsandprivileges,theanimateddiscussionandvitriolbyanelectedcouncilofSriLankansofTamiloriginwherediametricallyoppositeviewsareaired—onesideunapologeticallyaccusingthecurrentadministrationledbyChiefMinisterWigneswaranofsellingouttoColombo,theotherstressingtheneedtoworkalongsidetheSinhalamajoritytohealthewoundsofnearlyfourdecadesofwar.

Sampanthan—TheManintheMiddle

ThisisJaffna’sfirstrealtasteofdemocracyposttheinternecinewarsthatbeganinthe1980s.CanitlettheopportunityslipawayinthewelterofcriticismofColombothatisthreateningtodrownouteventhoselikethevenerableTNAleaderandmemberofParliamentRajavarothiamSampanthanwhocounselspatienceandnegotiation?ThenewlyanointedéminencegriseofTamilpoliticians,Sampanthanlaysoutthereasoningbehindthemoderatestanceofhisparty.‘ThisisanopportunityinSriLankanhistorythathasnotpresenteditselfin

oversixtyyears.Thereistheveryrealpossibilityhereofabrandnewdawn.Wehavethechancetoworkoutanamicablearrangement;thevoicesofthepeopleofthenorthandtheeastandalltheotherTamilsarebeinggivenahearing,andwewouldbeveryremissnottograbthemoment,theopportunity,withbothhandsandworkwiththegovernmentonsecuringafuturefortheTamilpeoplewhohavesufferedforlongenough,’hesaid.MostsignificantwasthecastingoutbytheSriLankanpeopleoftheoneman

whonotonlycrushedtheTigersbutalsoopposedtherehabilitationofthethousandsofTamilsdispossessedbythe2009EelamWarIV—MahindaRajapakse.‘ThedefeatofMahindaRajapaksahasopenednewpossibilitiesforour

country.IthasbroughtinaParliamentandagovernmentthatisnotmajoritarian.Thereisashift,achange,’hesaid.‘TheimportantthingisthatwehavethebroadsupportofallTamilpartiesonframinganewConstitution,withaproposedaimtobringinamendmentsthatwillworktobenefittheTamilpeople.’Sampanthanhimselfmadehistoryofsortswhenhewasnominated—bythe

sameSinhalesemajoritythathadbeendubbedchauvinistbytheTamils—astheleaderoftheOppositioninParliament,thusbecomingthefirstTamilinoverthirtyyearstoholdthepost.Except,discriminationagainsttheTamilsisdeeplyentrenched.

Awell-knownTamil-originmediabaron—hedidnotwanttobenamed—whoexudesupper-crustclass,vocalizedawell-knowndiscriminatorytool:‘EventhoughIdon’tlooklikeaterrorist,andI’maknownfaceinthecapitalandinJaffna,anddrivealuxurycar,IamflaggeddownandaskedtoproducemyidentitycardandthecarnumberistakendownbecausetheidentitycardclearlyidentifiesmeasaTamil.MySinhala-speakingcolleagueneverfacesthesametreatment.’SureshPremachandran,theformerPLOTEleader,understandsthatkindof

discriminatorylanguage.AthishomeinaculdesacinthesuburbofDehiwala,hisbrother,Sarvesan,whoteachesinColomboandwasheadingouttocatchabustoJaffnathatnight,echoedthealmostuniversalangerfeltbyTamilsattheircontinuedvictimization.‘Thewarhasbeenoverforsixyears,butwearestillstoppedandsearchedon

busesandtrains,’saysSarvesan.‘Therearedifferentidentitycardsforeachethnicgroup—there’sonefortheSinhalese,onefortheMuslimsandoneforus.Andthepolicedon’tevenlookattheothercards,theyalwayslookatmine,becauseit’sinTamil.Thismuststop.Iftheywanttointegrateusintothemainstream,thenit’stimeeverySriLankan,whateverhisorherethnicorigin,istreatedasequal.AllourIDcardsmustbethesame.’OntheA9highway,asweheadedtoSencholaiadaylater,myTamildriver

sloweddownbeforeanarmypatrol.‘Nowjustsee,hewilltryandfindsomewaytoextortmoney.Hewillsaywewerespeedingorsomething.’Thatisexactlywhathappened,exceptthatbeforethearmypatrolaskedanymorequestionsofthehaplessdriverandweweredelayedevenfurther,Iboughtsometuppenny-ha’pennycommemorativesoftheEelamwar.Andweweresmilinglywavedon.TwohundredSriLankanrupeeslighter.Premachandranwho,likePonnambalam,bittheelectoraldust,reservesthe

bulkofhisirefortheSriLankangovernmentforgoingbackonRajiv’sIndo-SriLankanagreement.Harkingbacktotherecurringthemethatresonatesacrossthenorthonitsbifurcationfromtheeast,thusendingtheeighteen-yearrunoftheUnitedProvincialCouncil,Premachandran,likemostTamils,seesthedivisionasameanstocuttheTamilsdowntosize.‘Wewantthenorthandtheeastre-unitedaswasdoneposttheagreementsignedbyRajivGandhiandJR

[Jayewardene],’hesaid,whilerailingagainstthepowersofthepolicetosearchanddetain,whichhesaidhadnotbeencurbedfortwenty-fiveyears.Premachandranalsobroughtupthenewestirritant—theinabilityofthe

electedprovincialgovernmenttogovern.‘Nopowerdevolvestothecouncilwhichisanelectedbody,aspowerisvestedinthegovernorandnotthechiefminister.Tilltoday,thisprovincialcouncilhasnobudget,butoperatesonagranttomeetthe90percentrecurringexpenditure.JustonesmallchangeisneededintheRajiv–JRaccordtoempowerthecouncil,’hesays.‘Thereare80,000warwidowsinthenorthandtheeast,’avers

Premachandran,‘and12,000orphansandsome1000warwounded.TheNorthernCouncilshouldhaveatleastbeenallowedtoprovidefororphansandhelprehabilitateandtreatthewounded.Instead,wehave1,00,000SriLankansoldiers,apeace-timearmythatissimplyunpreparedtohelpthepeopleinthenorthandtheeast.Whataretheydoinghere?’heaskswithbarelyconcealedscorn.‘Farming?’Heisn’tfarwrong.Soldiersdrivingthreshersandharvestersarecommonon

theroadfromKilinochchitoVavuniyaandPuthukkudiyiruppu.Anequallybigbugbeararefundsfromthediasporathatareavailablefor

reconstructionbut,bylaw,cannotbetouched.‘Thechiefministerhasbeenpromisedfundingfromthediasporaforthewelfareofthewarwounded,buthecannotacceptitunlessalegalprovisoismadefortheuseofthesefunds.’ColombohasheldbackfromempoweringtheNorthernCouncilinthefear

thatoncethatisdone,thenorthandeastwillsecede,usingtheConstitutionratherthangunstogetwhattheyhavelongfoughtfor,‘andthatwewillbecomepowerfulagain,mastersofourowndestiny’,Premachandranscoffs.Hesays,however,thattheclamourforafederalsystemofgovernmentasitexistsinIndiamustbeheeded.LikeSampanthan,manyold-timers,includingthehighlyperceptiveformer

vicechancellorofJaffnaUniversityProf.P.BalasundarampillaiandaclutchofotherintellectualsandpoliticianswhomImeetoneeveninginJaffnaatthehomeofanIndianconsulateofficial,arekeentosoothethe‘wounds’ofthewar.SeveralhadfoughtundertheITAKbanner—funded,manysay,bytheTamildiaspora—inthelandmarkelectiontotheProvincialCouncillastyear,andarelookingatwaystosecurethefutureoftheTamilpeoplepolitically.

TheTamils’embraceofthenewpoliticalupturnraisesseveralquestions.Hasthemillion-strongcommunitycompletelyabandoneditsyearningforanindependentstateafterthedefactostate-within-the-state,courtesyPrabhakaran,whichhadgiventhemthestatusoffirst-classcitizens,wassnatchedaway?OraretheystillholdingontothehopethatthehugelywealthydiasporainEuropeandCanadathathadbackedtheirbattleoncebefore,willcometogetheragainandfundanotherTamilarmytochipawayatthedominantSinhalese?Ifnotjustice,thenretribution?Sampanthanwillhavenoneofit,sayingtheimputationthatTamilswouldgo

backtoviolenceandgunsisdownrightlaughable.Themaninthevanguardoftheanti-ColomborefraininJaffnaisNorthern

ProvincialCouncilChiefMinisterWigneswaran.ArespectedretiredjudgefromColombowhowashand-pickedforthejobbySampanthan,Wigneswaranisequallycertaintherewillbenoturningbacktheclock.Buthiscampaigntorehabilitatewarwidowsandthewarwounded,andbringininvestmentforcapacity-buildingandreconstructionbywooingIndiahasrunaground.Almostapoplecticwithangerandfrustration,Wigneswaranisconstrainedbytheconstitutionalrequirementthathasoverriddenthe13thAmendment—thatagovernor,whoisentrustedwithmorepowersandanswersonlytoColombo,hastosignoffoneveryproposal.Sofar,thegovernorhasn’t.Morelawyer-politicianthaneconomist,Wigneswaran,aColombonative,

knowshemustguardagainsthisfellowTamilsgoingbacktobelievingthatthegunistheonlyanswertotheirills.Hemustkeeptheirfaithinthefederalmodelaliveand,atthesametime,notbeseenasColombo’scat’spaw,alltoowillingtodotheSirisenagovernment’sbidding.Hisone-pointagendathatoverridesallelseistorestoretotheTamilpeople

theirsenseofself-respect,andthefirststeptowardsthatistogeteverysinglesoldierfromtheSriLankaArmyoffthecitystreets,eventhoughthearmyitselfbelievesitspresenceisnecessarytoensurethecontinuingsecurityofthenorthandtheeast.Tamilsmakeupapopulationofroughly1.6millionhere,wherethemilitaryhasdeployed1,50,000–2,00,000troops.Again,ashefreelyadmits,‘Ihavehadnosuccesswiththateither.’Asthearmyrazesmileaftermileofgraveyardsandtombstonesthatonce,

albeitghoulishly,commemoratedtheTamilTigersmartyredtothecause,erasing

thelastremindersofthirtyyearsofthemiseriesofwar,theTamilsofSriLankaknowthatthepathtoredemptioncannotliewithyetanotherPrabhakaran.

Epilogue

THEPALALYOFOCTOBER2015isaworldawayfromtheonethatIhadseenonmypreviousvisits.Abarometerofthechangethathasovertakenthenorthistherunwayand,infact,theentireairbase—picture-perfect,rebuiltbytheManmohanSinghgovernmentasagestureofgoodwill.Thethreatofwarhaslongreceded.Nolongerdoesitlookasifitisbracing

foranattack,forsuddenconflict.TheonlysignthatitisstillanactiveairbasecomesfromtheSLAFaircraft

thathaslandedjustaheadofus.That,andtheloneartillerygunatthefarendoftherunway,juttingoutthroughsandbagsagainstacloudlessbluesky.Ahelicopterhoversnoisilyoverhead,whilearoundus,freshyoungrecruits—menandwomen—arebeingputthroughtheirpacesearlyinthemorning.Sixyearsafterthewarended,theSLAFhasgonecommercialwitha

vengeance.ThelastseatonaroundtripviaTrincomalee’sscenicChinaBayonthenewlyrenamedHeliToursaircraftdoesn’tcomecheap.RatmalanaairbaseinColomboisawashwithstewardessesandstaffinsmartnewuniformsmanningcheck-incountersthathavereplacedthericketydesksofthepast.Andthefifty-seaterthattakesoffforthePalalyairbaseisfillednotjustwithservicemenandtheiryoungfamilies,butdozensofwell-heeledmembersoftheTamildiaspora,manyreturningtoJaffnaforthefirsttimesincethewarended,alongwithinsurancesalesmenandbusinessmen.Devi,achicLondon-basedformerresidentofSriLankastandsoutwithher

fashionablyshortcropofgreyandherdesignerhandbag.Accompaniedbyherdaughters,agrand-daughter,aBritishson-in-lawandherhusband,sheisgoingtocheckonhergrandmother’shomeinKankesanthurai—ahouseshehasinheritedbuthasn’tseensincesheleftthecountryoverthirtyyearsago.‘Mydaughterswerebarelythreeandfivewhenwelastcamehere,’shesays.

Emotional,notsurewhatshewillfind,sheshowsmepicturesofahomethathadbornethebruntofthewar,firsttakenoverbytheIPKFandthentheSriLankaNavy.Itsroofhadbeenblownoff,someofthewallshadcavedin,andaroundit

wasnothingbutdesolation.Sheiskeentorebuildherturn-of-the-centuryhome.Herhusband,whocamefromChavakachcheri,furthereast,whichborethebruntofallfourEelamwars,isn’tsurewhattheyshoulddo.OnthewaybacktoColomboafewdayslater,wemeetagainattheHeliTours

officeinJaffnacity.Theirmoodismarkedlydifferent.Anyhopestheyhadofrebuildinghavebeentemperedbytherealityofmaintainingahousesofarfromwhattheyhadcalledhomefornearlyfortyyears.‘Iwouldmuchrathersellit,’thehusbandsaystome,outofhisfamily’searshot,astheyheadbacktoColomboandontothetranquillityofGalleforadestinationholidaybythesea.Sixyearssincetheprachanai—thetroubles—camecrashingdownaround

theirears,therageamongtheTamilsiswaning.Butthenewgovernment,anamalgamoftwoparties,theSLFPandtheUNP,bothideologicallyopposedandarch-rivals,butunitedagainstMahindaRajapaksa,woulddowellnottotaketheTamilcommunityforgranted.ThefurythatonceconsumedtheTamilsinthenorthandtheeast,fannedfor

thirtylongyearsbyPrabhakaran,withhismasterlyabilitytoinspirefearandadulationinequalmeasure,isnodoubtgreatlydiminished.Whereoncetherewasseethingangerbubblingjustbelowthesurface,drawingsatisfactionfromactsofrevengeagainsttheSinhalesearmyofoccupation,withnoapologiesprofferedfortheviolenceandbrutalityvisitedontheLankansoldieryorRajivGandhi’sassassination,today,thereisn’tregret,butinsteadapangforalostcause,anentiremissinggeneration.Andoverlayingitall,fatigue.There’sawearyacknowledgmentthattheTigerswhospokeoutforthemand

foughtintheirname,hadbeenoutflankedandout-manoeuvrednotjustbyColombo,butbytheTamils’greatestandmostvocalsupporters—theEUandOslo.Andwiththem,byaWashingtonandDelhithatcouldillaffordanothercataclysmic9/11,anIPKFdisaster,oraMumbaiof26/11.Nooutsidepowerwouldcountenancetheseparatistcause.Thelanguageofwar,ofblusterandbraggadocioisatanend.TheTamilsin

Jaffnaarespeakingawholenewvernacular.Theyknowtheyhavedrawntheshortendofthestick,thattheymustswallowtheirpridewhenaskedbySinhala-speakingpolicemen—andthenumerousarmypatrols—deployedacrossthecitiesofthenorth,fromJaffnatoVavuniyaandKilinochchi,toshowtheirIDcards.Theyarethevanquished,notthevictors.

ThehopesandaspirationsofthepeopleofJaffnanolongerliewithKilinochchibutwithColomboand,onceagain,withNewDelhi.IndiahasrespondedbyreachingouttotheordinaryTamil,building50,000homestorehabilitatethedisplacedandthehomeless,andrebuildingschoolsandhospitals,whilediplomaticallyusingeverylevertoensurethattheminoritycommunityisnolongerneglectedortreatedlikesecond-classcitizens.TheIndianmission’slargessehas,however,leftthe75,000Tamil-speaking

Muslimsoutofthereckoning,warnsacademicAhilanKadirgamar.HeisadistantrelativeoftheslainforeignministerLakshmanKadirgamar,andoneofthemanyintellectualswhohavereturnedtoJaffnatohighlighttheissuesthatconfrontapost-warnorth,includingtheplightofwarwidowsturningtoprostitutionandthefateofthe‘disappeared’.Fortheyoung,EuropeandCanadastillbeckon.Foreignlanguageinstitutes

dottheJaffnalandscape,offeringFrench,GermanandEnglishcourses.‘WhensomeoneislearningEnglish,youknowhewantstogotoauniversityabroadforhigherstudies,andifit’sGermanit’sprobablybecausehewantstogetatechnicaldegree.Ifit’sFrench,thenshe’sprobablylookingforahusband...’saysanirreverentTamilreturnee.Forallthedarkhumour,JaffnaexemplifiesthechallengebeforeallTamils—

theyknowthatthistimetheyhavetodrivethehardestofbargains,whileeschewingviolenceandstrictlyplayingbytherules.Thistime,astheyrebuildtheirshatteredlivesandhomes,theymustputanewleadershipinplaceandhopethattheircollectivevoiceofreasonwillwaterdownthejingoismoftheSinhalamajoritythatcontinuestoshrugawaytheslightstotetchyTamilpride.DespitethesenseofanewbeginningandtheperceptionthatJaffnastandson

thecuspofatransformation,Prof.Pillaisays—echoingwhatmanyold-timersfeel—thatwithhischildrenworkingintheUKandunlikelytoreturn,evenasquestionmarksremainoverthenewlyelectedgovernmentandtheprovincialcouncil’sabilitytodeliverjusticetowar-affectedfamilies,hedidn’tseemuchpointinholdingontohisancestralhome.

QuestionsonwheretheordinaryTamilstandsasfarashispolitics,faithandsocietalstandingareconcerned,remain.FortheSriLankanTamilthereareexistentialdilemmasthatneedtoberesolved.Thewarhadended,Prof.Pillaisaid,butthegrievancesofTamilsdefeatedinthewar,wereyettobeaddressed.‘MywifeandIaren’tsureasyet,butwhenIretire,maybeI’llsellmyhomeandgoandlivewithmysonanddaughter.’That’sprobablywhyatthePalalyairbase,whereeventodaynobodyentersor

leaveswithoutanSLAFescort,neithertheglorioussunshine,theabundanceofcheerfulbougainvilleathatlinetherunwaynorthehappytouristsdeplaningcanchaseawaytheghostsofthepast.Inthiscityofthedefeated,ofbattleslostthatcouldneverhavebeenwon,at

least,notinperpetuity,Jaffna,whichepitomizestheheartandsouloftheIlankaiThamil,seemstohaveallbutshakenoffthirtyyearsofennui,oftheendlesswaitforthenighttoend,forthetidetoturn.Itisnolongeracityinretreat,notdefeatistbyanystretchoftheimagination.

Instead,itseemsliketheLankanTamilsarefinallydonewaitingforsomeone,beitaRajivGandhioraPrabhakaran,awhiteknightortheprinceofdarkness,tocometotheirrescue,andhavetakenmattersintotheirownhands.Thisistheirbattletofight,theirwartowin—butwithoutgunsandviolence.Despiteallthenaysayersandthedoomsdayprojectionsbyaclutchofwriters

andcommentators,theSriLankanTamilhasgonefrombusttoboom.It’sstillworkinprogress.Butthere’snooneandnothingtoholdthembackbutthemselves.

Acrossthenarrowseas,intheserene,greenexpanseofSriperumbudur,standsamemorialtoRajivGandhitomarkthespotwherehehadbeenassassinated.Thehighpointsofhistenurearemany—hewaselectedwithoneofthebiggestmajoritiesinIndianhistory,heforgedpeacewiththeSikhswithoutalienatingthemoderates,extendedahandoffriendshiptotheMizos,reachedouttoBeijingandIslamabad,tookthefirststepstowardsempoweringthepoorestofthepoorinIndianvillagesbyintroducingpanchayatirajandbecamethefirsttoseethepotentialofIndia’sboomingmiddleclassasaboostfortheeconomy—

buthisSriLankanmisadventuremayyetovershadowitall.UnlesstheSriLankanTamilreclaimsthelostlegacyofRajivGandhi,themanwhoofferedthemapromisedlandwhichhisnemesis,Prabhakaran—consumedbyviolence,speakingonlyofvengeanceandretribution—couldneverdeliver.

1D.R.Kaarthikeyan,TriumphofTruth,TheRajivGandhiAssassination:TheInvestigation(NewDelhi:SterlingPublishers,2004).

2SubramanianSwamy,TheAssassinationofRajivGandhi:UnansweredQuestionsandUnaskedQueries(NewDelhi:KonarkPublishers,2000).

3K.Ragothaman,ConspiracytoKillRajivGandhifromCBIFiles(NewDelhi:ManasPublications,2013).

1M.R.NarayanSwamy,TheTigerVanquished(NewDelhi:SagePublications,2010).

1J.N.Dixit,India’sForeignPolicy—ChallengeofTerrorismFashioningInterstateEquations(NewDelhi:GyanBooks,2003).

2J.N.Dixit,AssignmentColombo(NewDelhi:KonarkPublishers,1998).3RohanGunaratna,IndianInterventioninSriLanka(Colombo:SouthAsianNetworkonConflictResearch,1993).

1B.Raman,TheKaoboysofR&AW:DownMemoryLane(NewDelhi:LancerPublishers,2007).

2AdeleBalasingham,TheWilltoFreedom:AnInsideViewofTamilResistance(Mitcham:FairmaxPublishing,2003).

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