Theepan

Baheerathakumar was born on 8 January 1966. He was from Vaddakkachchi in Kandavalai, Kilinochchi District.[1][2][3][4] His family were originally from Varani in Jaffna District.[5][6] He was educated at Chavakachcheri Hindu College.[6]

Baheerathakumar's sister is married to Tamil National Alliance MP S. Shritharan.[7] His three elder brothers live in Canada.[8] His younger brother Sivakumar (nom de guerre Kilman), who was in command of the Charles Anthony division in Trincomalee District, was killed in an accident in 1994.[6] His cousin was Thileepan (alias Curdles or Kerdy), the LTTE's regional commander for Thenmarachchi.[6]

Baheerathakumar married a former LTTE cadre, they had no children.[4]

Baheerathakumar was recruited into the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam by his cousin Thileepan in 1984.[6] He took on the nom de guerre Theepan and codename Tango Papa.[6] He sometimes used the aliases Thavabalasingam or Sivatheeban.[6]

Theepan served in Mahattaya's Vanni command.[6] He then joined Mahattaya's bodyguard unit.[6] Mahattaya became deputy leader of the LTTE in 1987 and re-located to Jaffna. Theepan went to Jaffna to be Mahattaya's chief bodyguard.[6] Mahattaya was later transferred back to Vanni and Theepan joined him in Paalamottai, Vavuniya District.[6] Theepan was then appointed military commander for Kilinochchi District where he carried many attacks against the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF).[6]

In 1988 the LTTE's three regional commands in Vanni were unified and placed under the command of Balraj. Theepan became Balraj's deputy.[6] Shortly after the IPKF's withdrawal from Sri Lanka in 1990 war erupted between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government. Balraj and Theepan led a number of successful operations against the Sri Lankan military in the Vanni including the capture of Mankulam and Kokavil in June/July 1990.[6] They also took part in the unsuccessful attack on Elephant Pass in July/August 1991.[6]

When Balraj was appointed commander of the Charles Anthony Brigade in 1992 Theepan became the new regional commander for Vanni.[6] Theepan was involved in the successful Operation Ithayabhoomi (Heartland), Operation Yarl Devi and Operation Thavalai (Frog).[6]

Mahattaya was executed by the LTTE for treason in 1994 after which Theepan was transferred from Vanni to Jaffna.[6] Theepan helped defend Jaffna against the Sri Lankan military's Operation Leap Forward.[6] He also took part in the LTTE's Operation Thunderstrike.[6] In October 1995 the Sri Lankan military launched Operation Riviresa (Sun Rays) to re-capture the Jaffna peninsula. After the military reached the outskirts of Jaffna city Theepan and Bhanu were made joint commanders of the LTTE forces defending Jaffna.[6] Despite being surrounded on all sides Theepan and the LTTE held on until 27 November 1995 (Maaveerar Naal).[6] They then withdrew from Jaffna and waded through Jaffna lagoon before being rescued by the Sea Tigers.[6]

Theepan led the reconnaissance of the army camp in Mullaitivu prior to it being overrun by the LTTE in July 1996.[6] In 1997 the Sri Lankan military launched Operation Jayasikurui (Certain Victory) aimed at clearing a land route to the Jaffna peninsula. Theepan was given the task of defending the A9 highway.[6] He was also the LTTE's overall field commander against Jayasikurui.[6] He was at the time joint commander of the Vanni along with Karuna Amman.[6] He took part in the successful capture of Kilinochchi in September 1998.[6] After Jayasikurui was called off in 1998 the LTTE launched Operation Unceasing Waves III which resulted in a series of LTTE victories from Oddusuddan to Elephant Pass. As joint commander of the Vanni region Theepan played a major role in these victories.[6]

After Elephant Pass the LTTE gained some territory in the south of the Jaffna peninsula and Theepan was put in charge of the LTTE's Kilaly-Muhamaalai-Nagar Kovil forward defences.[6] He was appointed Northern Regional Commander.[9][10] The military launched Operation Agni Kheela (Ball of Fire) to re-capture the southern part of the Jaffna peninsula, particularly Elephant Pass.[11] The operation was disaster for the military - it suffered heavy casualties and Theepan was responsible for this.[6] The LTTE withdrew from the Jaffna peninsula after the military captured Paranthan. Theepan and his cadres withdrew from the peninsula to Challai via Chundikkulam lagoon.[6] He was also in charge of defending Kilinochchi and despite being surrounded the LTTE held on to their administrative capital until 2009.[6]

During the 2001-06 cease fire Theepan led various talks with the government/military and Norwegian mediators.[12][13] Amongst those who had talks with Theepan were Defence Secretary Austin Fernando, Major General Sarath Fonseka, Major General Shantha Kottegoda, Major General Devinda Kalupahana (ret'd) and Major Shavendra Silva.[14][15][16]

Hostilities between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan military resumed in 2006. Theepan was reportedly injured in fighting in August 2006.[17] He was also reportedly injured in an air raid on Kilinochchi in January 2008.[18] Theepan became the de facto deputy military commander of the LTTE following the death Balraj in May 2008.[4] After the fall of Kilinochchi in January 2009 the LTTE were forced to retreat east. Theepan was involved in heavy fighting as the LTTE battled to retain its dwindling territory.[6] Theepan and his troops, together with other senior LTTE commanders, were surrounded by the military at Ananthapuram, Mullaitivu District.[6] Bhanu, Lawrence and Keerthi broke out of the siege but Theepan refused to go, wanting instead to remain with his troops.[6] The LTTE led by Bhanu tried unsuccessfully to rescue Theepan and his troops.[6] Theepan was injured on 1 April and 2 April 2009.[6] He suffered from internal bleeding and died on 4 April 2009.[6] Theepan's body was identified by a doctor in military custody who had previously treated his chest wounds.[19] Theepan's elder sister and other family members surrendered to the military.[8] The Battle of Ananthapuram ended the next day, the LTTE had lost more than 500 cadres.[20] Colonel Theepan is believed to have been promoted to Brigadier posthumously.[4]

• Eelam View