While Rajiv Gandhi was being given a guard of honour, a naval officer Vijitha Rohan Wijemuni hit him with the butt of a gun. Vijitha belonged to the Sinhalese community and was against Rajiv Gandhi's decision to send peacekeeping forces.

The death anniversary of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi is observed every year on 21 May. He was assassinated in a suicide attack during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu on 21 May 1991. This day is also celebrated as National Anti-Terrorism Day. Rajiv Gandhi was a prominent politician of India, who served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989. He was the youngest Prime Minister of India, who assumed this responsibility at the age of just 40. Let us know some important information related to the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi

In the 1970s, an organization called LTTE became active in Sri Lanka. Its full name is Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. This organization demanded the establishment of an independent Tamil state separate from Sri Lanka. Over time, this movement became more powerful and violent. In 1983, LTTE members killed 13 Sri Lankan soldiers in Jaffna, which made the situation tense. After this, the fighting between LTTE and the Sri Lankan army intensified and civil war broke out in Sri Lanka.

The direct impact of the Sri Lankan civil war was visible in India

The impact of the widespread violence in the neighboring country was also felt in India. Lakhs of Tamil people started coming to India by sea route. At the same time, the LTTE group was demanding a separate nation along with the Tamils ​​living in India. This means that the direct impact of the Sri Lankan civil war was now being seen in India as well.

The situation became even more serious in 1986. When the Sri Lankan army attacked Jaffna, a stronghold of the Tamils, many Tamil civilians lost their lives. India sent its army to help the Tamils ​​trapped in Jaffna. This operation was named 'Pawan'. India initially tried to send aid by sea route, but Sri Lankan soldiers prevented the Indian army from going there.

India was dissatisfied with this decision and announced that it would send help to the Tamils ​​through air, which would also include the Indian Air Force. It was also said that if the planes of the Indian Air Force were attacked, it would be considered a declaration of war. After this step of India, the Sri Lankan government agreed to compromise with the LTTE. In July 1987, the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force began in Jaffna. Along with this deployment, Rajiv Gandhi also went to Colombo to sign the peace agreement.

A sailor attacked with the butt of a gun

On July 30, when Rajiv Gandhi was being given a guard of honor, a naval officer Vijitha Rohan Wijemuni attacked him with the butt of his gun. Vijitha belonged to the Sinhalese community and was angry with Rajiv Gandhi for the decision to send peace forces. Although Rajiv Gandhi managed to control the situation in time, he was injured. Immediately his security team surrounded the attacker. This incident is a unique incident as it is the only attack on an Indian Prime Minister on foreign soil.

This decision became the reason for the murder

After the peace agreement, Indian army soldiers remained stationed there till 1990. About 1200 Indian soldiers were martyred in this operation. This decision later became the reason for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Because the step of sending army for peace establishment made Rajiv Gandhi an enemy for LTTE. Due to this, in 1991, LTTE carried out a suicide attack and killed Rajiv Gandhi.

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