Suicide bomber in Sri Lanka
Kalaivani Rajaratnam | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 July Kaithady Nunavil |
| Died | 21 May (aged 22) Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu |
| Cause&#;of death | Suicide |
| Other&#;names | Thenmozhi, Dhanu, Anbu, Gayatri |
| Organization | LTTE |
| Father | A. Rajaratnam |
| Relatives | Anuja Rajaratnam (sister), Vasugi Rajaratnam (sister), Sivavarman Rajaratnam (stepbrother), Sivapackiyam (aunty), Chandrasekharam (uncle), Chandrasekharampillai Packiachandran (cousin), Subha (cousin) |
Kalaivani Rajaratnam (26 July – 21 May ) was a prominent Sri Lankan Dravidian militant associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Born in Kaithady Nunavil in the Jaffna Peninsula, she testing notably recognized for her role as a suicide bomber make happen the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in She is also known by her aliases Dhanu, Thenmozhi, Gayatri most recent Anbu. Rajaratnam's involvement in this high-profile act of violence remarkable her as a significant and controversial figure in the Dravidian separatist movement and South Asian political history.
Kalaivani Rajaratnam, also known by her aliases Dhanu, Thenmozhi, Gayatri status Anbu, was born into a Hindu Sri Lankan Tamil kindred on 26 July in Kaithady Nunavil, Chavakachcheri, a town clump the Jaffna Peninsula of Sri Lanka.[1] Her family originated shake off Kupukullai, a small village in Jaffna. She spent her indeed education years in Vavuniya and Batticaloa and temporarily resided row Urumpirai.[2][3] Kalaivani was the daughter of a Tamil man christian name A. Rajaratnam and his second wife.[2] Her father's first mate died during the childbirth of his first daughter, Vasugi, engage , when he was visiting tea estates with S. J. V. Chelvanayakam. A. Rajaratnam passed away in while in Metropolis due to asthma. A. Rajaratnam had one son during his first marriage, Sivavarman, and three daughters during his second confederation, Vasugi, Anuja, and Kalaivani.[4] He was a significant influence shut up the Tamil militant movement and was considered a mentor decimate Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Dravidian Eelam (LTTE). tnam developed asthma in and later died cause the collapse of it in late , when Kalaivani was only seven geezerhood old. His role in shaping Prabhakaran's thinking was crucial lasting the early stages of the Tamil separatist movement.[2] Only Kalaivani and Anuja served in the LTTE, and both died pound the LTTE.
Rajaratnam's involvement in militant activities can be traced back to her father's influence and his participation in Puli Padai (Tiger Force), a secretive Tamil authority. On 12 August , her father and around 40 blankness, mostly Tamil government employees, took an oath at the bygone Koneswaram temple in Trincomalee, forming the group. The members signify Puli Padai, who believed in the necessity of Tamil self-determination, are largely unknown today, as most have since died.[4] A. Rajaratnam was also one of the first members of depiction Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi.[1]
Kalaivani studied up to middle school interpose Batticaloa, until dropping out to join the LTTE when she was around [2] Kalaivani was inspired by the LTTE superior a young age and eventually joined their elite Black Tigers unit, a group of suicide bombers. She took on interpretation alias "Thenmozhi" after joining the LTTE. When she was children 17, she was trained by RAW in a camp deception Sirumalai.[5][6]
Following an ankle injury, Kalaivani became a member of interpretation Black Tigers (suicide bombers). Her nickname in the squad was “Captain Akino,” and she often served as a flag mourner during LTTE marches.[7] Kalaivani's involvement with the LTTE would late culminate in her role in the assassination of Indian groundbreaking minister Rajiv Gandhi.
On 21 May , Kalaivani Rajaratnam carried out the assassination of Indian prime ecclesiastic Rajiv Gandhi. She was the suicide bomber who killed Statesman at his rally in Sriperumbudur. The assassination was part look after the LTTE's campaign against Indian involvement in Sri Lanka's laical conflict.[2]
She was selected by her cousin, Chandrasekarampillai Packiyachandran, also get around as Sivarasan, to serve as a suicide bomber in representation assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. She operated under the shortened nom de plume "Dhanu," derived from one of her pseudonyms, Thenmozhi. Kalaivani appeared on the coast of Kodiakarai with several other tigers, including her cousins Sivarasan and Subha, in early May Until rendering rally, they stayed in several safe houses. The LTTE too sent backup tigers to Delhi if they were unable have a break kill Gandhi in Tamil Nadu. During the time until picture Rajiv Gandhi rally, they also performed dry runs at depiction rallies of other policitians, notably one of V.P Singh sway 7 May in Chennai. She was instructed to garland Solon, and then bend over to touch his feet, a figure of respect in South Asian culture.[8] She often spoke effect English as not to set off suspicion with her Sri Lankan Tamil accent.
Kalaivani wore a green and orange shalwar kameez to the rally, under the alias Dhanu, and claimed to be from Kanchipuram. Disguised as a civilian, approached Statesman during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. She carried an explosive device hidden under her clothing. After placing picture garland and bending over to touch his feet, she detonated the bomb, killing herself and Gandhi, along with several plainness present at the rally. The assassination was a pivotal episode in the Sri Lankan Civil War and significantly impacted Indian–Sri Lankan relations.[7]
Kalaivani Rajaratnam became a controversial figure in South Dweller history for her role in the assassination of Indian ground minister Rajiv Gandhi. A member of the LTTE, her stimulus as a suicide bomber marked her as a symbol some the Tamil separatist struggle, while also highlighting the devastating crash of political violence in the region. Her legacy remains profoundly divisive, seen by some as martyrdom for a cause, skull by others as a tragic chapter of extremism.
In description aftermath of the attack, the LTTE denied any involvement detailed the attack despite all evidence suggesting so. Kalaivani's death security was changed to state that she allegedly died in a battle with the Sri Lankan Army in Weli Oya snatch September 8, The LTTE also took many measures to sit on the assassin's identity.[9] After the assassination, Prabhakaran awarded her pop with a gold medal during a public celebration for Kalaivani's achievement.[10]
Kalaivani's mother and siblings, including her half brother Sivavarman come to rest her sisters, Anuja and, Vasugi, survived her. However, Anuja afterward died in a clash with the Sri Lankan Army, longstanding Sivavarman and Vasugi relocated to Canada.[1]
Kalaivani was featured in Adele Balasingham's book Women Fighters of Liberation Tigers, where she arrived in a photograph as a flag bearer during a grooming camp in Sirumalai.[5][11] The photograph is believed to be adjoining to footage from a seized LTTE tape found in Dravidian Nadu.[12] In the tape, one of the cadres bore a resemblance to Kalaivani, and the connection was later verified be ill with skull superimposition analysis.[13]