21.08.91
*t15
STATEMENT BY MINSTER
(ii) Encounter with LTTE militants on 20th August, 1991 at Konanakunte near Bangalore
[English]
THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI S.B. CHAVAN): I rise to
apprise this August House on the details of the incident at Konanakunte near Bangalore in which Sivarasan, one of the main accused in Shri Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and six others were found dead.
In pursuance of the consent given by the Goverment of Tamil Nadu to investigate the case of Shri Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, a Special Investigation Team was formed. The SIT has examined 346 witnesses and conducted searches at 49 places seizing incriminating material. 14 accused persons were also arrested. As you are all aware, the most important accused who had remained to be arrested were Sivarasan and Subha. A nation-wide man-huunt was launched and efforts were being made to locate the hideout of these main conspirators.
Suspecting that some LTTE militants were hiding in Muttati and Beroota villages of Mandya District, raids, in all, 12 LTTE cadres were taka Police on 17/18-8-91. In these raids. in all, 12 LTTE cadres were found dead after committing suicide by consuming cyanide and five suspect who were apprehenced were admitted in Bowring Hospital, Bangalore
During investigation, it was ascertained that a person by name 'Anjanappa'n of Puttenahalli had helped the LTTE militants to find houses in Muttati and Beroota. Further, a diary containing a list of 26 militants was also found at Muttati. Based on this information, another person by name' Ranganath' was also apprehenced by 421 Statement by Minster Encounter with LTTE Militants on 20-8-1991 at Konanakunte near Bangalore
Bangalore City Police. This person gave information about a house in Konanakunte which was arranged by him for six militants. The City Police along with SIT surrounded this house on the night of 18-8-1991 and kept a continuous watch on the house. Further, one person by name 'Prem Kumar', was apprehended at Konanakunte crossing. He was the man who was supplying food etc., to the LTTET'E militants hiding in Konanakunte house. Further enquiries revcaled the prescnce of LTTE militints including Sivarasan and perhaps Subha in the above house.
To try and capture Sivarasan and others alive, watch was continued throughout the 19the and the entire area was encircled and guarded by plain clothes men and NSG Commandow positoned strategically, Additional reinforcement of NSG Commandos and medical expert with latest anticyanide antidote were requisitioned from Delhi. It was decided not to storm the place as similar action earlier on sevral occasions had resulted in even minor LTTE functionaries commiting suicide. On 19th, around 7.00 P.M., the LTTE militants holed up inside the house, opened fire incriminately without any apparent reason. The NSG returned the fire. This exchange of fire continued for about 30 minutes and three police personnel (one of NSG and tow and two of Karnataka Police) sustained injuries. The injured are out od danger. The militants opened fire either because they were wanting to escape under the cover of fire or because of some movements close to the house where in local residents ware trying to move a broken down lorry. Two militants who came out, perhaps in a bid to escape ran back inside the house. Later at around 8.00 P.M., about 7-8 more rounds were fired by the militants for about half a minute.
After the arrival of the additional reinforcements and the medical team
422 Statement by Minister Release of Sh. Doraiswamy, a Senior I.O.C Official obducted by Militants in Srinagar in June, 1991
with the lates anticyanide antidote from Delhiin the early hours of 20th August, the house was stormed at about 6.30 A.M. The NSG Commandos blasted the door and entered the house. They found the dead bodies of 7 LTTE militants. They included the wanted Sivarasan and a woman who is obviously Subha but whose identity requires evidential confirmation. Efforts are on to identify all the other bodies. One AK 47 rifle and a 9 MM pistol and several rounds of ammunition were recovered. Sivarasan was found with a bullet injury in the temple of his head. All others obviously died due to cyanide poisoning. It is being ascertained whether Sivarasan also consumed cyanide capsule. The bodies were shifted to Victoria Hospital for post-materm examination
The whole operation was supervised by CBI Director. SIT Chief and the City Police Commissioner of Bangalore and the NSG officers.
Meanwhile, the S.I.T. will continue investigation of case relentlessly with the objective of unravelling the entire conspiracy behind the assassination, identifying and arresting the remaining accused person and eventually charge sheeting the case in court.
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