Tamil New Tigers
The Tamil New Tigers (TNT) was a Sri Lankan Tamil militant organization founded by Velupillai Prabhakaran on 22 May 1972.[1] The group was composed of a few close associates of Prabhakaran, who was only 17 years old when he founded the group. The group was a predecessor to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
| Tamil New Tigers | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Velupillai Prabhakaran † |
| Dates of operation | 22 May 1972 – 5 May 1976 |
| Motives | Creation of an independent state of Tamil Eelam in the Northern Province and the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. |
| Ideology | Tamil nationalism |
| Notable attacks | Duraiappa Stadium Bombing Assassination of Alfred Duraiappah |
| Status | Inactive |
| Designated as a terrorist group by | Sri Lanka |
Initially, the TNT carried out several small-scale attacks, including the bombing of a carnival at the Duraiappa Stadium in 1972, and several explosions during Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike's visit to Jaffna in 1974. The group gained notoriety in 1975 when Prabhakaran and three other members assassinated Alfred Duraiappah, the Mayor of Jaffna.[2]
The group continued to carry out attacks and a string of bank robberies after the assassination, and the Sri Lanka Police were issued orders to arrest all members of the group. Wanting to form a guerrilla group, Prabhakaran created the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on 5 May 1976 and disbanded the Tamil New Tigers.[3]
References
- "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)". The Jain Commission Report. Vol. 5. Archived from the original on 2006-07-16. Retrieved 2009-04-14 – via India Today.
- Sabaratnam, T. "Birth of Tamil New Tigers". Pirapaharan.
- "Prabha's unlucky 33 bullets". The Daily Mirror. 2009-04-08. Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-14.