Bhanu (Tamil militant)

Brigadier Bhanu
Birth name	Sivanadan Somasekaran
Born	(1962-01-01)1 January 1962 Ariyalai, Sri Lanka
Died	18 May 2009(2009-05-18) (aged 47) Vellamullivaikkal, Sri Lanka
Allegiance	Tamil Eelam
Branch	Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Service years	1983–2009
Rank	Brigadier
Commands	LTTE Mortar / Artillery units (Kutti Sri Mortar Brigade & Kittu Artillery Brigade)
Known for	Commander of LTTE artillery/mortar units
Conflicts	Sri Lankan Civil War Eelam War I, between 1984 and 1987 Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War, between 1987 and 1990 Eelam War II, between 1990 and 1995 Eelam War III, between 1995 and 2002 Eelam War IV, between 2006 and 2009

Sivanadan Somasekaran ^{[1] [2]} known by his nom de guerre, Bhanu, was a leading member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a separatist Tamil militant organisation in Sri Lanka. Bhanu is widely regarded as one of the LTTE's finest field commanders, and is credited with raising the LTTE's artillery and mortar units. Bhanu played leading roles in LTTE victories at Pooneryn, Mullaitivu, and Elephant Pass. ^[3]

Early life

Bhanu was born in Ariyalai in 1962. Little is known about his childhood and family. He joined the LTTE in 1983 after being affected by the widespread state-sponsored anti-Tamil violence that plagued Sri Lanka during the early 1980's. ^[4]

References

1. "The taking of Elephant Pass". HinduOnNet. 13 May 2000. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
2. "What happened to Colonel Bhanu?". AsianTribune. 11 October 2005. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
3. Jeyaraj, DBS (2021). "The rise and fall of the LTTE – Part II". Daily Mirror.
4. "The taking of Elephant Pass". HinduOnNet. 13 May 2000. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.