The Hunt Rajiv Gandhi Assassination

The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991, in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, triggered one of India’s most complex and high-profile investigations. The hunt for the perpetrators was a multifaceted operation involving numerous agencies and presenting immense logistical and political challenges.

Immediately following the bombing, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by D.R. Karthikeyan. The SIT faced intense pressure to quickly identify and apprehend the culprits while navigating a politically charged atmosphere. Early investigations focused on various leads, including suspicion falling on several extremist groups.

Crucially, the investigation hinged on identifying the human bomb and piecing together the conspiracy. The breakthrough came with the meticulous examination of the crime scene, where fragments of a camera used by the assassin, Dhanu, were recovered. The film inside yielded crucial photographs that helped identify her and other key members of the assassination squad. These photographs became instrumental in the manhunt.

The investigation revealed the involvement of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a Sri Lankan Tamil militant organization. The SIT meticulously traced the conspiracy back to LTTE leaders, including its chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran, who was later identified as the mastermind behind the assassination. The motive was attributed to Rajiv Gandhi’s decision to send Indian peacekeeping forces (IPKF) to Sri Lanka in 1987, an intervention that angered the LTTE.

The SIT’s investigation extended beyond India, requiring coordination with Interpol and intelligence agencies in other countries. The LTTE’s extensive network and clandestine operations made the pursuit difficult. Many key conspirators were traced to Sri Lanka, making extradition impossible. The manhunt involved raids, surveillance, and interrogation of hundreds of suspects across India and abroad.

Over the next few years, the SIT successfully apprehended several key members of the assassination squad. Some, like Sivarasan (the one-eyed Jack) and Subha, committed suicide to avoid capture. Others, like Nalini Sriharan and Murugan, were arrested and faced trial. The investigation uncovered a well-organized and ruthless operation orchestrated by the LTTE.

The Rajiv Gandhi assassination case stands as a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the investigative agencies involved. It highlighted the challenges of investigating transnational terrorism and the importance of meticulous forensic work and international cooperation. While Prabhakaran, the mastermind, was killed in 2009 during the Sri Lankan civil war, the legal proceedings against the apprehended conspirators continued for years, bringing a measure of closure to a nation deeply scarred by the assassination.