Raju (Tamil militant)
Ambalavanar Neminathan (Tamil: அம்பலவாணர் நேமிநாதன் Ampalavāṇar Nēminātaṉ; 30 May 1961 – 25 August 2002; commonly known by the nom de guerre Raju) was a leading member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist Tamil militant organisation in Sri Lanka.
Colonel Raju | |
|---|---|
கேணல் ராயூ | |
 | |
| Born | A. Neminathan 30 May 1961 |
| Died | 25 August 2002 (aged 41) Malaysia |
| Other names | Kannan Kuyilan |
| Years active | 1983–2002 |
| Organization | Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam |
Neminathan was born on 30 May 1961. He was from Erlalai South near Chunnakam, Jaffna District.[1]
Neminathan joined the LTTE after the Black July riots of 1983, taking on the nom de guerre Raju.[1] Raju served as the head of the LTTE's Engineering Corps.[1] He was said to be close to LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran.[1][2] He was special commander of the Leopard Commandos, an infantry unit, and chief technical officer in the Kittu Regiment, the LTTE's artillery unit which Raju helped create.[1][2][3] Raju was the target of a number of covert assassination attempts by the Sri Lankan military.[3]
After developing cancer Raju was taken from Vanni to Malaysia by boat.[3] He died on 25 August 2002 in Malaysia.[1][2][3] He was posthumously promoted to Colonel.
References
- "Thousands mourn LTTE Col. Raju" (PDF). Tamil Guardian. 18 September 2002.
- "Tigers mourn death of senior commander". TamilNet. 10 September 2002.
- "Top guerrilla leader dies". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 22 September 2002.