Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi

The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, former prime minister of India, occurred as a result of a suicide bombing in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, India on 21 May 1991. At least 14 others, in addition to Rajiv Gandhi and the assassin, were killed. It was carried out by 22-year-old Kalaivani Rajaratnam (popularly known by her assumed names Thenmozhi Rajaratnam and Dhanu), a member of the banned Sri Lankan Tamil separatist rebel organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). At the time, India had just ended its involvement, through the Indian Peace Keeping Force, in the Sri Lankan Civil War. Subsequent accusations of conspiracy have been addressed by two commissions of inquiry and have brought down at least one national government, the government of Inder Kumar Gujral.

Infobox

Location

12°57′37″N 79°56′43″E / 12 °N 79 °E / 12 ; 79 Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, India

Date

21 May 1991 (1991-05-21) 10:10 pm (IST)

Target

Rajiv Gandhi

Attack type

Suicide bombing

Weapons

RDX explosive-laden belt

Deaths

16 (including Rajiv Gandhi and the perpetrator)

Injured

Victims

At least 57 others

Perpetrator

Kalaivani Rajaratnam (popularly known by her assumed names Thenmozhi Rajaratnam and Dhanu)

Accused

Kalaivani Rajaratnam

Tables

The plot · Assassin Kalaivani Rajaratnam and Co-Conspirators

Chandrasekharam Pillai Packiyachandram alias Sivarasan alias Raghuvaran

Name

Chandrasekharam Pillai Packiyachandram alias Sivarasan alias Raghuvaran

Act in plot

Planning and executing the plot of the assassination

Birthdate

1958

Birthplace

Udupiddy

Cause of death

Suicide

Malligai Pillai alias Subha or Nithya

Name

Malligai Pillai alias Subha or Nithya

Act in plot

Standby to accompany the human bomb she was also the backup bomber

Birthdate

1964

Birthplace

Kupukullai

Cause of death

Suicide

Kalaivani Rajaratnam alias Dhanu alias Anbu

Name

Kalaivani Rajaratnam alias Dhanu alias Anbu

Act in plot

The human bomb

Birthdate

26 July 1968

Birthplace

Kaithady Nunavil

Cause of death

Suicide

Name	Act in plot	Birthdate	Birthplace	Cause of death
Chandrasekharam Pillai Packiyachandram alias Sivarasan alias Raghuvaran	Planning and executing the plot of the assassination	1958	Udupiddy	Suicide
Malligai Pillai alias Subha or Nithya	Standby to accompany the human bomb she was also the backup bomber	1964	Kupukullai	Suicide
Kalaivani Rajaratnam alias Dhanu alias Anbu	The human bomb	26 July 1968	Kaithady Nunavil	Suicide