Brigadier Athavan (Kadabi)

Brigadier Athavan (Kadabi)

Anandapura Battle, History of the Heroes.

His birthplace is Kottravaththay, Vathiri of Vadamaradchi area.

He joined the LTTE in 1985-86 and was trained in India. He was one of the ten members of the LTTE selected by the Indian Army for training in firing anti-aircraft missiles. After Lt. Col. Ponnamman saw Kadabi´s marksmanship and introduced him to the national leader, Kadabi worked well as one of the national leader´s bodyguards. He served as one of the bodyguards of the national leader during his historic speech at the Suthumalai Amman Temple after the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement.

How did this commander, who started his work in the movement as an ordinary fighter, develop his skills and become a high-ranking commander? Or how was it created? This may be due to the early initiation of his agitation under the direct supervision of the leader.

Or how was it created? I knew through friends that he had the ability to mark the birds flying in the air in the mirror. The truth or false, but he would have tried it. Some changes in the force structure of the LTTE took place following the ‘Pulippaaychal’ operation carried out by the LTTE against the Sri Lankan Army’s operation in the name of ‘Progress’. Senior General Sornam, who was the Special Commander of the Imran-Pandiyan Brigade till then, was appointed as the main Commander. At that time, Gaddafi was appointed as the special commander of the Imran-Pandiyan Brigade.

From July 1995 to early 2002 – that is, until the ceasefire between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government forces – Athavan, also known as Gaddafi, served as the special commander of the Imran-Pandyian force. The Imran-Pandiyan Brigade was a collection of several special forces. Gaddafi had created many special teams and made various achievements in the liberation journey.

Similarly, even if an attack is completed, the attacker will be asked to document the details of the attack rather than the success or failure of the attack. Those documents will be prepared to include the reasons why the attack succeeded or failed, and what could be improved in the future. The documents thus received will be forwarded to the training masters. Corresponding corrections or changes will be made in the exercises. It was Gaddafi who took care to maintain plans and operations during the tight periods.

A report had to be prepared on an attack operation on Palaly Airfield. The investigation report was being prepared based on the statements of those who participated in the attack and the recorded telephonic conversations. A part of the statement read as follows. “”A” attacked the Sri Lanka Army’s armored vehicle with a low weapon and the vehicle caught fire”. Gaddafi corrected it and said that it should be clearly written that “The person A attacked the Sri Lanka army’s armored vehicle with a low weapon, and it hit the armored vehicle and the vehicle caught fire”. He was stubborn that such accurate data would help complete investigations.

The above incident is only a small matter. But the deep military significance buried within that little thing is understandable to the common man. But their differences are understandable. In this way, he gives importance to each matter and is careful to complete them.

As for Gaddafi, he was responsible for managing not only the attack teams involved with the attacks, but also the administrative teams such as training, investigations, and intelligence. Fighters in a normal conventional army are required to perform briefings to maintain fighting spirit. But as far as fighters are concerned, there is no need for that. Meanwhile, the fighters in the administrative ranks would send letters or meet in person asking them to go to the fight after a certain period.

It would be difficult to replace veterans in administrative programs with others immediately given the importance of certain programs. He would show them various examples, patiently instruct them that other tasks are as important as fighting, and constantly put them back to work with the importance of that task. It must be said that the fighters in different tasks have been managed by the same regiment and guided by his talent.

As far as his offensive operations are concerned, I think that he would have directly participated in special military operations. Especially in 1995 when he shot down two Avro planes near Pally Airport. The national leader had already recognized Gaddafi’s ability to target, so the task was given to him by the national leader. It is noteworthy that those planes were shot down by anti-aircraft missiles.

Gaddafi, who had been a member of the national leader’s security team during the Indian Army, gradually assumed various duties under the direct supervision of the national leader. Most of the Karumpulikal operations against military bases in Tamileelam were carried out under Gadaffi´s leadership. It is also noteworthy that many deep intelligence operations were carried out under his guidance.

Brigadier Gaddafi, who was leading various liberation works, was involved with other commanders in preparations for a major military operation at the end of March in the Ananthapuram area of Mullaitheevu district in the fourth phase of the Eelam War.

With the unexpected increase in the enemy’s military strength with the cooperation of many indirect forces, the teams were ready to launch a massive final breakthrough attack. But the enemy, knowing the preparations for such an operation, engaged in a siege operation using internationally banned explosives on the Ananthapuram area where the LTTE was staying.

Gaddafi, who fought resolutely till the end, was seriously injured in the battle of Ananthapuram. Even when efforts were made to save him and bring him out, realizing the tight condition of the field he took the cyanid and along with, Brigadier Theepan, Brigadier Vithusa, Brigadier Thurga, Brigadier Manivannan, and many other fighters he became maveeran on the soil of Ananthapuram.

We pay our respects to our brave leader. We pay our respects to the commanders and fighters who fell fighting with the enemy on the same day in Ananthapuram.

We will follow you till Tamileelam is ours.