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{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Brigadier
| name = Theepan
| honorific_suffix =
| native_name = பிரிகேடியர் தீபன்
| native_name_lang = ta
| image = Brigadier Theepan.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = V. Baheerathakumar
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1966|01|08|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|04|04|1966|01|08|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Ananthapuram (Sri Lanka)|Ananthapuram]], [[Mullaitivu District]]
| death_cause =
| nationality =
| other_names = Thavabalasingam,<br>Sivatheeban
| citizenship =
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Chavakachcheri Hindu College]]
| occupation =
| years_active = 1984–2009
| organization = [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]
| known_for =
| title =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party =
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
| relatives =
| callsign = Tango Papa
| awards =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| signature_size =
| website = 
| footnotes =
}}
'''Velayuthapillai Baheerathakumar''' ({{lang-ta|வேலாயுதபிள்ளை பகீரதகுமார்}} ''Vēlāyutapiḷḷai Pakīratakumār''; 8 January 1966 – 4 April 2009; commonly known by the nom de guerre '''Theepan''') was a leading member of the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] (LTTE), a [[Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups|separatist Tamil militant organisation]] in [[Sri Lanka]]. He played a leading role in the LTTE's military victories in the [[Vanni (Sri Lanka)|Vanni]] during [[Eelam War III]], including [[Battle of Mullaitivu (1996)|Mullaitivu]] (1996), [[1998 Battle of Kilinochchi|Kilinochchi]] (1998), [[Oddusuddan offensive (1999)|Oddusuddan]] (1999) and [[Second Battle of Elephant Pass|Elephant Pass]] (2000). He was killed at the [[Battle of Ananthapuram]] in the last days of the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]].

==Early life and family==
Baheerathakumar was born on 8 January 1966. He was from [[Vaddakkachchi]] in Kandavalai, [[Kilinochchi District]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Gnanadass|first=Wilson|title=Last of the Tiger Leaders|url=http://www.nation.lk/2009/03/01/newsfe8.htm|newspaper=[[The Nation (Sri Lanka)]]|date=1 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Jeyaraj|first=D. B. S.|title=LTTE debacle at Aanandapuram: Top Tiger leaders killed|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20090412/FOCUS.HTM|newspaper=[[The Sunday Leader]]|date=12 April 2009|authorlink=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Jeyaraj|first=D. B. S.|title=Theepan of the LTTE: Heroic saga of a Northern warrior|url=http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/318|publisher=dbsjeyaraj.com|authorlink=|date=15 April 2009}}{{Self published inline|reason=Blogspot blogs are not reliable|date=August 2022}}{{Dead link|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref name=SL080412>{{cite news|last=Jeyaraj|first=D. B. S.|title=Anatomy Of The LTTE Military Debacle At Aananthapuram|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2012/04/08/anatomy-of-the-ltte-military-debacle-at-aananthapuram/|newspaper=[[The Sunday Leader]]|date=8 April 2012|authorlink=}}</ref> His family were originally from [[Varani]] in [[Jaffna District]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Jeyaraj|first=D. B. S.|title=Theepan of the LTTE: Heroic saga of a Northern warrior|url=http://archives.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=45957|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331184957/http://archives.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=45957|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 March 2013|newspaper=[[The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)]]|date=11 April 2009|authorlink=}}</ref><ref name=DBS040412>{{cite web|last=Jeyaraj|first=D. B. S.|title=Theepan of the LTTE: Heroic saga of a Northern warrior|url=http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/5381|publisher=dbsjeyaraj.com|authorlink=|date=4 April 2012}}</ref> He was educated at [[Chavakachcheri Hindu College]].<ref name=DBS040412/>{{Self published inline|reason=Blogspot blogs are not reliable|date=August 2022}}{{Dead link|date=August 2022}}

Baheerathakumar's sister is married to [[Tamil National Alliance]] [[Member of Parliament (Sri Lanka)|MP]] [[S. Shritharan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bodies buried throughout Mullivaikkal – Sritharan|url=http://www.ceylontoday.lk/16-4613-news-detail-bodies-buried-throughout-mullivaikkal-sritharan.html|newspaper=[[Ceylon Today]]/[[Oneindia.in]]|date=14 April 2012}}</ref> His three elder brothers live in [[Canada]].<ref name=TN050409>{{cite news|last=Perera|first=Tissa Ravindra|title=Army plans ‘No Fire Zone’ capture|url=http://www.nation.lk/2009/04/05/defence.html|newspaper=[[The Nation (Sri Lanka)]]|date=5 April 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref name=DBS040412/> His cousin was Thileepan (alias Curdles or Kerdy), the LTTE's regional commander for [[Thenmarachchi]].<ref name=DBS040412/>

Baheerathakumar married a former LTTE cadre, they had no children.<ref name=SL080412/>

==Militant==
Baheerathakumar was recruited into the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam by his cousin Thileepan in 1984.<ref name=DBS040412/> He took on the [[nom de guerre]] Theepan and codename Tango Papa.<ref name=DBS040412/> He sometimes used the aliases Thavabalasingam or Sivatheeban.<ref name=DBS040412/>

Theepan served in [[Mahattaya]]'s [[Vanni (Sri Lanka)|Vanni]] command.<ref name=DBS040412/> He then joined Mahattaya's bodyguard unit.<ref name=DBS040412/> Mahattaya became deputy leader of the LTTE in 1987 and re-located to [[Jaffna]]. Theepan went to Jaffna to be Mahattaya's chief bodyguard.<ref name=DBS040412/> Mahattaya was later transferred back to Vanni and Theepan joined him in Paalamottai, [[Vavuniya District]].<ref name=DBS040412/> Theepan was then appointed military commander for [[Kilinochchi District]] where he carried many attacks against the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] (IPKF).<ref name=DBS040412/>

In 1988 the LTTE's three regional commands in Vanni were unified and placed under the command of [[Balraj]]. Theepan became Balraj's deputy.<ref name=DBS040412/> 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 [[Battle of Kokavil|Kokavil]] in June/July 1990.<ref name=DBS040412/> They also took part in the unsuccessful [[First Battle of Elephant Pass|attack on Elephant Pass]] in July/August 1991.<ref name=DBS040412/>

When Balraj was appointed commander of the [[Charles Anthony Brigade]] in 1992 Theepan became the new regional commander for Vanni.<ref name=DBS040412/> Theepan was involved in the successful Operation Ithayabhoomi (Heartland), Operation Yarl Devi and [[Battle of Pooneryn|Operation Thavalai]] (Frog).<ref name=DBS040412/>

Mahattaya was executed by the LTTE for treason in 1994 after which Theepan was transferred from Vanni to Jaffna.<ref name=DBS040412/> Theepan helped defend Jaffna against the Sri Lankan military's Operation Leap Forward.<ref name=DBS040412/> He also took part in the LTTE's Operation Thunderstrike.<ref name=DBS040412/> 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.<ref name=DBS040412/> Despite being surrounded on all sides Theepan and the LTTE held on until 27 November 1995 ([[Maaveerar Naal]]).<ref name=DBS040412/> They then withdrew from Jaffna and waded through [[Jaffna lagoon]] before being rescued by the [[Sea Tigers]].<ref name=DBS040412/>

Theepan led the [[reconnaissance]] of the [[Sri Lanka Army|army]] camp in [[Mullaitivu]] prior to it being [[Battle of Mullaitivu (1996)|overrun]] by the LTTE in July 1996.<ref name=DBS040412/> 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 (Sri Lanka)|A9 highway]].<ref name=DBS040412/> He was also the LTTE's overall [[field commander]] against Jayasikurui.<ref name=DBS040412/> He was at the time joint commander of the Vanni along with [[Karuna Amman]].<ref name=DBS040412/> He took part in the successful [[1998 Battle of Kilinochchi|capture of Kilinochchi]] in September 1998.<ref name=DBS040412/> After Jayasikurui was called off in 1998 the LTTE launched [[Operation Unceasing Waves III]] which resulted in a series of LTTE victories from [[Oddusuddan offensive (1999)|Oddusuddan]] to [[Second Battle of Elephant Pass|Elephant Pass]]. As joint commander of the Vanni region Theepan played a major role in these victories.<ref name=DBS040412/>

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 [[Muhamalai Forward Defence Line|Kilaly-Muhamaalai-Nagar Kovil forward defences]].<ref name=DBS040412/> He was appointed Northern Regional Commander.<ref>{{cite news|title=LTTE's military strength key to Tamils' future- Theepan|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=17558|newspaper=[[TamilNet]]|date=24 March 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fuard|first=Asif|title=Final battle in the midst of civilians|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090412/News/sundaytimesnews_14.html|newspaper=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]]|date=12 April 2009}}</ref> The military launched Operation Agni Kheela (Ball of Fire) to re-capture the southern part of the Jaffna peninsula, particularly Elephant Pass.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jeyaraj|first=D. B. S.|title=Army suffers "Agni Kheela" type debacle again|url=http://transcurrents.com/tamiliana/archives/206|authorlink=|date=15 October 2006|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103022247/http://transcurrents.com/tamiliana/archives/206|archivedate=3 November 2014}}</ref> The operation was disaster for the military - it suffered heavy casualties and Theepan was responsible for this.<ref name=DBS040412/> 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]].<ref name=DBS040412/> He was also in charge of defending [[Kilinochchi]] and despite being surrounded the LTTE held on to their administrative capital until 2009.<ref name=DBS040412/>

During the 2001-06 cease fire Theepan led various talks with the government/military and Norwegian mediators.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kamalendran|first=Chris|title=Govt-LTTE in six hours of rehab talks|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/021117/news/4.html|newspaper=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]]|date=17 November 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Athas|first=Iqbal|title=Curtains for Army - LTTE contacts|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/030119/columns/sitrep.html|newspaper=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]]|date=19 January 2003|authorlink=Iqbal Athas}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tigers block EPDP Delft office|url=http://www.island.lk/2002/11/18/news01.html|newspaper=[[The Island (Sri Lanka)]]|date=18 November 2002|author=Shamindra Ferdinando|author2=Norman Palihawadana}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SLA meets LTTE’s Northern Forces Commander|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=7463|newspaper=[[TamilNet]]|date=12 September 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tigers, GOSL optimistic after first defence meet|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=7794|newspaper=[[TamilNet]]|date=10 November 2002}}</ref>

Hostilities between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan military resumed in 2006. Theepan was reportedly injured in fighting in August 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title=Parties map out battle plans|url=http://www.nation.lk/2006/08/27/newsfe1.htm|newspaper=[[The Nation (Sri Lanka)]]|date=27 August 2006}}</ref> He was also reportedly injured in an air raid on Kilinochchi in January 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last=Perera|first=Amantha|title=Bloody fighting after Avurudhu|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20080427/defence.htm|newspaper=[[The Sunday Leader]]|date=27 April 2004}}</ref> Theepan became the de facto deputy military commander of the LTTE following the death Balraj in May 2008.<ref name=SL080412/> After the [[2008–09 Battle of Kilinochchi|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.<ref name=DBS040412/> Theepan and his troops, together with other senior LTTE commanders, were surrounded by the military at [[Ananthapuram (Sri Lanka)|Ananthapuram]], [[Mullaitivu District]].<ref name=DBS040412/> [[Colonel Bhanu|Bhanu]], Lawrence and Keerthi broke out of the siege but Theepan refused to go, wanting instead to remain with his troops.<ref name=DBS040412/> The LTTE led by Bhanu tried unsuccessfully to rescue Theepan and his troops.<ref name=DBS040412/> Theepan was injured on 1 April and 2 April 2009.<ref name=DBS040412/> He suffered from internal bleeding and died on 4 April 2009.<ref name=DBS040412/> Theepan's body was identified by a doctor in military custody who had previously treated his chest wounds.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hunt for Prabha reaches final page|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090510/Columns/political.html|newspaper=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]]|date=10 May 2009}}</ref> Theepan's elder sister and other family members surrendered to the military.<ref name=TN050409/> The [[Battle of Ananthapuram]] ended the next day, the LTTE had lost more than 500 cadres.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jeyaraj|first=D. B. S.|title=op Tiger leaders killed in a major debacle for LTTE|url=http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/293|publisher=dbsjeyaraj.com|authorlink=|date=6 April 2009}}</ref> Colonel Theepan is believed to have been promoted to Brigadier posthumously.<ref name=SL080412/>{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.eelamview.com/2012/04/01/brigadier-theepan-2/ Eelam View]

{{Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Theepan}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of Chavakachcheri Hindu College]]
[[Category:Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam members]]
[[Category:People from Northern Province, Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:People killed during the Sri Lankan Civil War]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil rebels]]
[[Category:Indian Peace Keeping Force]]

Theepan - Revision history

Bot: robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.