Kittu (Tamil militant)

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Colonel
| name = Kittu
| honorific_suffix =
| native_name = கிட்டு
| native_name_lang = ta
| image = Kittu (Tamil militant).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = S. Krishnakumar
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1960|01|02|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1993|01|16|1960|01|02|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Indian Ocean]]
| nationality = [[Sri Lanka]]n
| other_names =
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| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| years_active = 1978 –1993
| organization = [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]
| known_for =
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'''Sathasivam Krishnakumar''' ({{lang-ta|சதாசிவம் கிருஸ்ணகுமார்}}; 2 January 1960 – 16 January 1993; commonly known by the nom de guerre '''Kittu''') was a [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] rebel and leading member of the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]], a [[Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups|separatist Tamil militant organisation]] in [[Sri Lanka]].

==Early life and family==
[[File:Chithambara College, Valvettithurai.JPG|thumbnail|left|230px|Chithambara College]]
Krishnakumar was born on 2 January 1960.<ref name=Arumugam>{{cite book|last=Arumugam|first=S.|title=Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon|url=http://noolaham.net/project/19/1810/1810.pdf|year=1997|page=85|authorlink=S. Arumugam}}</ref><ref name=Rajasingham>{{cite book|last=Rajasingham|first=K. T.|title=Sri Lanka: The Untold Story|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DI14Df01.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021021094345/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DI14Df01.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=2002-10-21|chapter=Chapter 57: Kittu, the LTTE legend}}</ref> He was the son of Sathasivam and Rajaluxmy (Seethalakshmi) from [[Valvettithurai]] in northern [[Dominion of Ceylon|Ceylon]].<ref name=Arumugam/><ref name=Rajasingham/> Sathasivam owned the Kumar Achchakam [[printing press]] in [[Nelliady]].<ref name=Arumugam/><ref name=Rajasingham/> Rajaluxmy was a supporter of the [[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi]] and took part in the 1961 [[satyagraha]].<ref name=Rajasingham/>

Krishnakumar had one brother and two sisters.<ref name=Arumugam/> He was educated at Chithambara College, Valvettithurai and [[Velautham Maha Vidyalayam]].<ref name=Arumugam/><ref name=Rajasingham/> [[V. Prabhakaran]] and [[Mahattaya]] were also educated at Chithambara College.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Prabhakaran was also a close relative and friend of Krishnakumar.<ref name=Rajasingham/>
{{clear|left}}

==LTTE==
Krishnakumar was involved in helping [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Tamil]] refugees who fled to the [[Jaffna peninsula]] following the [[1977 anti-Tamil riots]].<ref name=Arumugam/> Deeply affected by the suffering of the refugees, Krishnakumar joined the [[Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups|militant]] [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] (LTTE) in 1978.<ref name=Arumugam/><ref name=Rajasingham/> He was given the [[nom de guerre]] Kittu.<ref name=Rajasingham/> He then travelled, along with LTTE leader Prabhakaran, to [[Madras]], India.<ref name=Rajasingham/>

LTTE member [[Seelan]] (Charles Lucas Anthony), a close associate of Prabhakaran, was killed in a confrontation with the [[Sri Lanka Army]] in [[Meesalai]] on 15 July 1983.<ref name=Rajasingham/> On 20 July 1983 the [[Sri Lankan government]] [[Media blackout|banned all reporting]] about the LTTE.<ref name=Rajasingham/> In response, the LTTE planned to ambush an army military convoy.<ref name=Rajasingham/> On 23 July 1983, at around 11.30 pm, the LTTE ambushed the [[Four Four Bravo]] military patrol in [[Thirunelveli]] near [[Jaffna]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Dissanayake|first=T. D. S. A.|authorlink=T. D. S. A. Dissanayake|title=War or Peace in Sri Lanka|publisher=Popular Prakshan|year=2004|isbn=81-7991-199-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wfkLyH95m9MC|pages=63–64}}</ref> Thirteen soldiers were killed on the spot, two died later and a number of LTTE cadres were also killed.<ref>{{cite book|last=O'Ballance|first=Edgar|authorlink=Edgar O'Ballance|title=The Cyanide War: Tamil Insurrection in Sri Lanka, 1973–88|publisher=Brassey's (UK)|year=1989|location=London|isbn=978-0-08-036695-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H15uAAAAMAAJ|page=21}}</ref> LTTE members involved in the ambush included Prabhakaran, Kittu, Appaiah, Chellakili, Iyer, Pulendran, Santos and Victor.<ref name=Rajasingham/> The ambush precipitated the [[Black July]] anti-Tamil riots in which between 400 and 3,000 Tamils were killed by [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] mobs.<ref name=Rajasingham/><ref>{{cite news|last=Harrison|first=Frances|title=Twenty years on – riots that led to war|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3090111.stm|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|date=23 July 2003|authorlink=Frances Harrison}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Buerk|first=Roland|title=Sri Lankan families count cost of war|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7521197.stm|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|date=23 July 2008}}</ref>

Kittu then became the LTTE's Jaffna regional commander.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Unusually, Kittu would personally lead LTTE's operations against the [[Sri Lankan military]].<ref name=Arumugam/><ref name=Rajasingham/> Kittu is credited with instilling discipline amongst the LTTE cadres.<ref name=Rajasingham/> He would punish harshly LTTE cadres who violated their [[code of ethics]] and civilians who committed minor offences.<ref name=Rajasingham/> He established [[kangaroo court]]s in Jaffna peninsula to create a state of fear amongst the population.<ref name=Rajasingham/>

In April 1986 the LTTE banned rival militant organisation [[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]] (TELO) and set about killing its leader [[Sri Sabaratnam]].<ref name=AT060505>{{cite news|title=Remembering Sri Sabaratnam, the TELO leader|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2005/05/06/remembering-sri-sabaratnam-telo-leader|work=[[Asian Tribune]]|date=6 May 2005}}</ref> Sabaratnam went on the run, fleeing from TELO's main base in Kalviyankadu to [[Neervely]], then to [[Kopay]] and finally to [[Kondavil]].<ref name=Rajasingham/> The LTTE found out that he was in Kondavil and they, led by Kittu, cordoned off the area and started a house-to-house search, using loud hailers to warn local residents not to shelter Sabaratnam.<ref name=Rajasingham/> On 6 May 1986 the LTTE discovered Sabaratnam in a tobacco field and Kittu shot him in the leg to prevent him escaping.<ref name=Rajasingham/><ref name=AT060505/><ref>{{cite journal|title=Diary of Incidents|journal=[[Tamil Times]]|date=August 1986|volume=V|issue=10|page=14|url=http://noolaham.net/project/33/3290/3290.pdf|issn=0266-4488}}</ref> Sabaratnam pleaded with Kittu for his life but Kittu shot him using a machine gun.<ref name=AT060505/><ref name=Rajasingham/> Sabaratnam's bullet ridden body was displayed at Kondavil bus stand before being handed over to his family.<ref name=AT060505/><ref name=Rajasingham/>

Kittu's ruthless side was tempered by respect for enemies whom he considered to be brave.<ref name=Rajasingham/> During the 1986 siege of [[Jaffna fort]], Kittu met with Captain Jayanath Kotelawala, whom he considered to be brave, several times and arranged for firewood and mangoes to be provided for soldiers trapped inside the fort.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Kittu met [[Vijaya Kumaranatunga]], Sinhalese actor and leftist politician, in Jaffna in October 1986.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Kittu led the LTTE's delegation in the short lived peace talks with the Sri Lankan government in [[Kankesanthurai]] in December 1986.<ref name=Rajasingham/><ref>{{cite journal|title=LTTE Puts Conditions for Direct Talks with Government|journal=[[Tamil Times]]|date=January 1987|volume=VI|issue=3|page=4|url=http://noolaham.net/project/33/3295/3295.pdf|issn=0266-4488}}</ref>

On 13 March 1987{{Efn|Another source gives the date as 13 March 1987.<ref name=Rajasingham/>}} Kittu was travelling in a jeep to meet his girlfriend Cynthia, a medical student at the [[University of Jaffna]], when, on Second Cross Street, Jaffna a gunman fired at the jeep and threw a grenade inside it.<ref name=Rajasingham/><ref name=TT0487>{{cite journal|title=LTTE's 'Punitive Action' for Assassination Attempt on Kitu|journal=[[Tamil Times]]|date=April 1987|volume=VI|issue=6|page=4|url=http://noolaham.net/project/33/3298/3298.pdf|issn=0266-4488}}</ref> Two of Kittu's bodyguards were killed and a third injured seriously.<ref name=Rajasingham/><ref name=TT0487/> Kittu's right leg was seriously damaged and had to be amputated.<ref name=Rajasingham/> As a result, his military career came to an end.<ref name=Arumugam/><ref name=Rajasingham/> The LTTE blamed rival militant groups [[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front]] and TELO for the attempted assassination and quickly "rounded up" members of these groups.<ref name=TT0487/>

Kittu then re-located to [[Madras]] where took charge of the LTTE's propaganda office.<ref name=Rajasingham/> During the [[Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War|LTTE-India conflict in Sri Lanka]] Kittu met with [[Research and Analysis Wing]] agents for talks aimed at bringing peace and implementing the [[Indo-Lanka Accord]].<ref name=Rajasingham/><ref>{{cite journal|title='No More Talks with R.A.W.' Says LTTE|journal=[[Tamil Times]]|date=August 1988|volume=VII|issue=9|page=19|url=http://noolaham.net/project/34/3313/3313.pdf|issn=0266-4488}}</ref> Kittu sent LTTE cadre Johny back to Sri Lanka to get instructions from Prabhakaran who was operating from the [[Vanni (Sri Lanka)|Vanni]] jungles.<ref name=Rajasingham/> However, Johny was ambushed by the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] and killed.<ref name=Rajasingham/> The LTTE-India talks collapsed and in August 1988 twelve LTTE offices in [[Tamil Nadu]] were closed and 154 LTTE activists, including Kittu, were arrested.<ref name=Rajasingham/><ref>{{cite journal|title=Tigers Rounded Up in Madras|journal=[[Tamil Times]]|date=August 1988|volume=VII|issue=9|page=20|url=http://noolaham.net/project/34/3313/3313.pdf|issn=0266-4488}}</ref> The LTTE activists threatened to launch a [[hunger strike]] as they were being [[Detention without charge|detained without charge]].<ref name=Rajasingham/> Kittu was released in October 1988 and deported back to Indian held Jaffna.<ref name=Rajasingham/><ref>{{cite journal|title=Kittu & Other LTTE Men Freed|journal=[[Tamil Times]]|date=October 1988|volume=VII|issue=11|page=6|url=http://noolaham.net/project/34/3315/3315.pdf|issn=0266-4488}}</ref> He then travelled to the Vanni, leaving his girlfriend Cynthia in Jaffna.<ref name=Rajasingham/>

In 1989, when peace negotiations were being carried out between the LTTE and Sri Lankan government, Prabhakaran decided to send Kittu to [[London]] for treatment to his amputated leg.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Kittu was flown from the Vanni to [[Colombo]] in a Sri Lankan military helicopter.<ref name=Rajasingham/> He was taken to the British High Commission where he received a [[Visa (document)|visa]] to travel to the UK. However, before leaving Sri Lanka, Kittu married Cynthia, who had travelled from Jaffna to Colombo, on 25 October 1989 at the hotel where the LTTE peace talk delegation were staying.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Kittu then travelled to the UK, joined later by Cynthia.<ref name=Rajasingham/>

Whilst in the UK Kittu took charge of the LTTE's international secretariat in London.<ref name=Rajasingham/> It's alleged that Kittu threatened and [[Extortion|extorted]] money from the growing number of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in the UK.<ref name=Rajasingham/> This led to numerous complaints being lodged with UK officials and eventually immigration officials started the process for deporting Kittu.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Pre-empting this, Kittu travelled to [[Paris]] and then onto Switzerland where he applied for asylum.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Next, he travelled to Sweden and then to Vienna where he received orders from Prabhakaran to return to the Vanni.<ref name=Rajasingham/>

Kittu then flew to [[Singapore]].<ref name=Rajasingham/> His movements thereafter remain unclear but it is believed he travelled to Thailand where he boarded the MV Yahata.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Earlier, whilst in [[Karachi]], the Yahata had been loaded with a huge cargo of weapons by the [[Pakistan Navy]] on the orders of the [[Inter-Services Intelligence]].<ref name=Rajasingham/> The Yahata left [[Phuket]] with the cargo of weapons and several LTTE cadres, including Kittu, on board.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Whilst at sea the ship changed its name to MV Ahat.<ref name=Rajasingham/> There are differing accounts of the events which then occurred. According to one account the [[Indian Navy]] and [[Indian Coast Guard]] intercepted the 400 tonne Ahat on 13 January 1993 south-east of Madras, sailing without navigation lights en route to Madras.<ref name=Rajasingham/> According to second account an Indian Coast Guard [[Dornier Flugzeugwerke|Dornier]] aircraft, whilst on a routine surveillance flight between [[Point Calimere]] and [[Point Pedro]], spotted the 280 tonne Ahat on 6 January 1993.<ref name=Rajasingham/> The Indian Navy kept the ship under surveillance, noting that it was sailing suspiciously towards the Indian coast, frequently changing course.<ref name=Rajasingham/> On 12 January 1993 the Indian had confirmation that the Ahat belonged to the LTTE and carried several LTTE cadres.<ref name=Rajasingham/> The Indian navy launched Operation Zabardast and on 14 January 1993 two coast guard ships, the CGS Vivek and [[INS Kirpan (P44)|INS Kirpan]], intercepted the Ahat and escorted it towards the Indian coast.<ref name=Rajasingham/> According to a third account, the Ahat was intercepted by the Indian navy on 13 January 1993.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Three days later, 700 km south-east of Madras, the LTTE allowed the crew to leave the Ahat after which they blew up the ship.<ref name=Rajasingham/> According to a fourth account, which was supported by the LTTE, the Ahat was intercepted by the Indian navy on 13 January 1993 in [[international waters]] about 290 miles east of [[Hambantota]].<ref name=Rajasingham/>

According to the official Indian military version, the Ahat was spotted on 6 January 1993 in Indian [[exclusive economic zone]] waters, acting suspiciously and changing course frequently.<ref name=Rajasingham/> The Indian coast guard and navy shadowed the Ahat and on making radio contact, found out that the ship was carrying arms, ammunition and explosives for the LTTE.<ref name=Rajasingham/> After being surrounded by the Indian navy, the crew set the ship, which was about 12 nautical miles off Madras, on fire.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Nine crew members jumped overboard and were rescued by the navy.<ref name=Rajasingham/> The remaining crew and LTTE cadres were given an opportunity to surrender but according to the Indians, Kittu threatened to blow the ship up if the Indian tried to board it.<ref name=Rajasingham/> Attempts to stop the fire and prevent it from sinking were delayed by the presence on board of explosives and hostile crew.<ref name=Rajasingham/>

On 16 January 1993 LTTE radio announced that ten senior LTTE cadres, including Kittu, had committed suicide.<ref name=TT0293>{{cite journal|title=The Tragic Saga of M.V. Ahat|journal=[[Tamil Times]]|date=15 February 1993|volume=XII|issue=2|pages=4–6, 19|url=http://noolaham.net/project/34/3366/3366.pdf|issn=0266-4488}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=11th Anniversary of Col.Kittu to be commemorated|url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=10962|work=[[TamilNet]]|date=16 January 2004}}</ref> Three days of mourning, starting 18 January 1993, were announced.<ref name=Rajasingham/><ref name=TT0293/>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Cite web|title=Colonel Kittu: The ruthless, long-forgotten LTTE fighter a Tamil movie wants to celebrate|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/colonel-kittu-ruthless-long-forgotten-ltte-fighter-tamil-movie-wants-celebrate-46663|author=TN Gopalan|date=July 17, 2016|website=[[The News Minute]]}}

{{Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam}}
{{Sri Lankan Civil War}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kittu}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:1993 suicides]]
[[Category:Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam members]]
[[Category:People from Valvettithurai]]
[[Category:People killed during the Sri Lankan Civil War]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil rebels]]
[[Category:Suicides in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Research and Analysis Wing]]
[[Category:Indian Peace Keeping Force]]
[[Category:Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]]

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Kittu (Tamil militant)