The suicide terrorist attack that killed 17 people, including Rajiv Gandhi, was an event that shook the world. It happened in March 1991. Although almost 33 years have passed, the various memories of that event are still being seen.
Shanthan’s last hope for freedom
Shanthan T. Sudendraraja from Jaffna, who was convicted of the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and later released, is the one who managed to rewrite this story. It has also happened in a susceptible situation in front of the society.
Shanthan, who was imprisoned for many years in connection with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case after 32 years, came out of prison to see his mother and enter the general society. For that, he obtained the necessary facilities to go to Sri Lanka under the intervention of the Indian government.
However, India notified Shanthan that he was hospitalised due to a sudden liver disease, and a few days later, he passed away before his mother.
Mother’s request
His mother, Thillaiyampalam Maheshwari, appealed to the Indian government to see Shanthan. The Government of India has taken steps to provide the necessary facilities by paying immediate attention to them. After considering the appeal, the government of India also took steps to grant Shanthan permission to come to Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, despite the approval of the Indian government, the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Chennai took steps to issue a foreign passport to Shanthan, but unfortunately, Shanthan had to die.
A special program to bring Shanthan quickly
President Ranil Wickremesinghe had also paid particular attention to carrying out the necessary arrangements to bring Shanthan, a Sri Lankan who was freed in connection with the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, to Sri Lanka.
That was according to Shanthan’s mother’s kind request. Accordingly, in the Cabinet meeting held on February 5, the President paid full attention to this matter and appointed Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda and a group of others to facilitate the same.
It was recognised by both the Indo-Ceylon governments that it was important for Shanthan to spend the rest of his life with his mother and family members.
Death before all
However, the last rites of the dead body of T. Sudendraraja alias Santhan were done recently (04) in the Velvettithurai area, Jaffna. The body was cremated according to Hindu rites at the Udupitti Hindu Cemetery.
Shanthan’s body was sent to Katunayake Airport amid tight security by members of the Indian security forces.
Since then, the pallbearers of the family who received the body have taken steps to take the body from Katunayake to Jaffna, and the funeral procession started from Vavuniya city on the 3rd and passed through the main towns of the northern province, including Mankulama, Kilinochchi.
Many people gathered on both sides of the road to pay their last respects.
The bomb attack that killed 14, including Gandhi
On May 21, 1991, former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bomb attack while participating in a public meeting in Tamil Nadu state. A 22-year-old female suicide bomber named Kalaivani Rajaratnam, also known as Dhanu targeted the former Prime Minister. 14 people, including Rajiv Gandhi, lost their lives in the bomb attack.
Also, around 35 other people were injured. LTTE regarding the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. A group of people involved in the organisation were arrested, and Shanthan was one of the suspects. In November 2022, India’s Supreme Court acquitted three others, including Shanthan, who were found guilty of murdering Rajiv Gandhi.
Accordingly, India took steps to detain him safely in a particular cell in the jail in Tiruchi until the Sri Lankan government took steps to bring him back.
Shantan and others arrested
Nalini Sriharan, Murugan Sriharan, T. Sudendraraja alias Shanthan, Robert Pearce, Jeyakumar, Ravichandran alias Ravi and AG Perarivalan were arrested for the murder of the former prime minister.
After filing the case against that group in the courts of Tamil Nadu and the Central Government of India, the convicts will be released on November 11, 2022, at the request of the Gandhi family.
Despite being released from prison, severe liver disease
Shantan was arrested and jailed as a 2nd convict and was released after serving 30 years in prison. Then Shanthan requested permission to spend his last season with his mother, who lives in Jaffna.
The Supreme Court of India, which paid attention to his request, also instructed the relevant departments to prepare the necessary background to fulfil his request. Although Shanthan was ready to visit Sri Lanka, all the essential facilities were provided. Still, his journey was delayed due to a liver disease.
On February 28, he was admitted to Chennai Rajiv Gandhi Hospital and treated accordingly. Unfortunately, he perishes there, making it impossible to fulfil his last hope alive.
An opinion that Shantan’s death is suspicious
Meanwhile, Shanthan’s lawyers have mentioned that there are doubts about his death. This has led to the creation of a new situation, and their argument is that Shanthan did not expect such a death. Doctors have concluded that Shanthan’s death was natural.
A situation where the politicians of the North are also paying attention in this regard is currently being observed. However, politicians in the North do not express a direct opinion in this regard, and they only point out that some attention should be paid to the claims made by some that this death is suspicious.
However, Shanthan received treatment for this condition while in prison. Accordingly, there is no evidence to argue that it was an unnatural death. EPRLF party leader Suresh Premachandran has mentioned that the medical conclusion that his death was natural has to be accepted without debate.
