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{{Sri Lankan Conflict}}
{{Short description|Military unit in the Sri Lankan Civil War}}
[[Image:LocationSriLanka.png|right|thumb|Location of [[w:Sri Lanka|Sri Lanka]]]]
{{distinguish|Indian Peace Commission}}
'''Indian Peace Keeping Force''' (IPKF), was the [[Military of India|Indian military]] contingent performing a [[peacekeeping]] operation in [[Sri Lanka]] between [[1987]] and [[1990]]. It was formed under the mandate of [[Indo-Sri Lankan Accord|the peace accord ]] signed between [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] in [[1987]] that was designed to end the [[Sri Lankan civil war|conflict]] between [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] and [[Military of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan armed forces]].{{ref|1}} Its task was to enforce the terms of the accord, and maintain peace. and was inducted into Sri Lanka on the request of the then [[President of Sri Lanka]], [[J. R. Jayewardene]] under the terms of the Indo-Sri Lanka accord.<ref name=Hennayake/>
{{Main|Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Indian Peace Keeping Force
| image =[[File:Stamp of India - 1990 - Colnect 164138 - Indian Peace Keeping Operation in Sri Lanka.jpeg]]
| caption =
| dates = July 1987 – March 1990
| country = {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} Sri Lanka
| allegiance = {{flagicon|India}} India
| branch = {{unbulleted list|[[Indian Army]]|[[Indian Navy]]|[[Indian Air Force]]}}
| role = {{unbulleted list|[[Peacekeeping]]|[[Counterinsurgency]]|[[Special operations]]}}
| size = 100,000 (peak)
| patron =
| motto =
| colors =
| march =
| battles = {{unbulleted list|[[Operation Pawan]]|[[Operation Viraat]]|[[Operation Trishul]]|[[Operation Checkmate (Sri Lanka)|Operation Checkmate]]}}
| decorations = {{unbulleted list|One [[Param Vir Chakra]]|Six [[Maha Vir Chakra]]s}}
| notable_commanders = [[Lieutenant General]] [[Depinder Singh]]<br>Major General [[Harkirat Singh (general)|Harkirat Singh]] ([[General Officer Commanding]])<br>Lieutenant General S.C. Sardeshpande<br>Lieutenant General A.S. Kalkat
Cap.Shivkaran Alok Dubey(M.VrC)
Gp.Capt. M.P Premi] [[Vir Chakra|VrC]],


[[Vayusena Medal|VM]] [[Indian Air Force|IAF]]
The force was initially not expected to be involved in any significant combat by the [[Military of India#Organization and command structure|Indian High Command]].<ref name=dixitrediff/> However, within a few months, the IPKF became embroiled in battle with the [[LTTE]] to enforce peace. In the two years it was in northern [[Sri Lanka]], the IPKF launched a number of combat operations aimed at destroying the LTTE-led insurgency. It was also accused during this time of having committed a number of [[Human Rights]] violations— mainly by the LTTE.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://nesohr.org/human-rights-reports/StatisticsOnCiviliansAffectedByWar.pdf?PHPSESSID=8204ff9bfa58e205f71a95c3899f8835|title=Statistics on civilians affected by war from 1974 - 2004|accessdate=2007-01-30 |format= |work=NESOHR }}</ref> but also by some neutral organisations.<ref name=UTHRJ>[http://www.uthr.org/history.htm '''University Teachers for Human Rights''' History of the Organisation]</ref>
| identification_symbol =
| commanders =
| ceremonial_chief =
| commander =
}}
'''Indian Peace Keeping Force''' ('''IPKF''') was the [[Indian Armed Forces|Indian military]] contingent performing a [[peacekeeping]] operation in [[Sri Lanka]] between 1987 and 1990. It was formed under the mandate of the 1987 [[Indo-Sri Lankan Accord]] that aimed to end the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]] between [[Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups]] such as the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] (LTTE) and the [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces|Sri Lankan military]].{{Ref|1}}


The main task of the IPKF was to disarm the different militant groups, not just the LTTE. It was to be quickly followed by the formation of an Interim Administrative Council. These were the tasks as per the terms of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord, signed at the behest of Indian Prime Minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]]. Given the escalation of the conflict in Sri Lanka, and with the pouring of refugees into India, Rajiv Gandhi took the decisive step to push this accord through. The IPKF was inducted into Sri Lanka on the request of Sri Lankan President [[J. R. Jayewardene]] under the terms of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.<ref name=Hennayake/>
The IPKF began withdrawing from Sri Lanka in [[1989]], following the election of the [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh#Prime Minister|V P Singh Government]] in [[India]], and on the request of the newly elected [[President of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan president]], [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]].<ref name=dixitrediff/> The last IPKF contingents left Sri Lanka in [[March]] [[1990]].


The force was initially not expected to be involved in any significant combat by the [[Indian Armed Forces#Organization and command structure|Indian High Command]].<ref name=dixitrediff/> However, within a few months, the IPKF became embroiled in battle with the LTTE to enforce peace. The war erupted following the death of 17 LTTE prisoners, including two areas commanders in the custody of the [[Sri Lankan Army]], which the LTTE blamed the IPKF for allowing to happen.<ref>University Teachers of Human Rights (Jaffna), Broken Palmyrah, Appendix II, http://www.uthr.org/BP/volume2/AppendixII.htm</ref> Soon, these differences led to the LTTE attacking the Sinhalese, at which point the IPKF decided to disarm the LTTE militants, by force if required. In the two years it was in northern Sri Lanka, the IPKF launched a number of combat operations aimed at destroying the LTTE-led insurgency. It soon escalated into repeated skirmishes between the IPKF and LTTE. Numerous [[Jaffna hospital massacre|civilian massacres]] and [[#Sexual_violence|rapes]] were committed by the IPKF during the conflict.<ref name="uthr.org">University Teachers of Human Rights (Jaffna), The Broken Palmyra, chapter 5 – "NO MORE TEARS SISTER" THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN, War of October 1987 http://www.uthr.org/BP/volume2/Chapter5.htm</ref><ref name=CM>{{cite book | last=McDowell | first=Chris | title= A Tamil Asylum Diaspora: Sri Lankan Migration, Settlement and Politics in Switzerland (Studies in Forced Migration) | year=1996 | publisher= Berghahn Books |isbn=1-57181-917-7}} p.181</ref><ref name=UTHR>{{Cite document | last1 = Hoole | first1 = Ranjan | author1-link = Ranjan Hoole | last2 = Thiranagama | first2 = Ranjani | author2-link = Ranjani Thiranagama | title = The Broken Palmyra, the Tamil Crisis in Sri Lanka, An Inside Account | publisher = The Sri Lanka Studies Institute | year = 1992 | id = ASIN: B000OGS3MW | pages = 265–71}}</ref> Numerous soldiers of IPKF were killed by LTTE.<ref name="burden"/>
==Background:Sri Lankan Civil War==
{{Main|Sri Lankan Civil War}}
{{Seealso|Operation Poomalai}}
[[Sri Lanka]], from the early part of the [[1980s]], was facing an increasingly violent [[Sri Lankan Civil War|ethnic strife]]. The origins of this conflict can be traced to the independence of the island from [[Britain]] in [[1948]] . At the time, a [[Sinhalese people|Sinhala]] majority government was instituted which passed legislation that were deemed discriminatory against the substantial [[Tamil people|Tamil]] minority population. In the [[1970]]s, two major Tamil parties united to form the '''Tamil United Liberation Front''' (TULF) that started agitation for a separate state of [[Tamil Eelam]] within the system in a federal structure in the north and eastern Sri Lanka<ref name= GlobSec>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/ltte.htm Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), World Tamil Association (WTA), World Tamil Movement (WTM), Federation of Associations of Canadian Tamils (FACT), Ellalan Force. GlobalSecurity.org]</ref> that would grant the Tamils greater autonomy. However, enactment of the sixth amendment of the [[Constitution of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan Constitution]] in August 1983 classified all separatist movements as unconstitutional,<ref name=Hennayake>'''The Peace Accord and the Tamils in Sri Lanka.'''Hennayake S.K. Asian Survey, Vol. 29, No. 4. (Apr., 1989), pp. 401-415.</ref> effectively rendering the TULF ineffective.<ref name=Hennayake/> Outside the TULF, however, factions advocating more radical and militant courses of action soon emerged, and the ethnic divisions started flaring into a violent civil war.<ref name= GlobSec/>


The IPKF began withdrawing from Sri Lanka in 1989, on the orders of the newly elected Sri Lankan President [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] and following the election of the [[V. P. Singh]] government in India.<ref name=dixitrediff/> The last IPKF contingents left Sri Lanka in March 1990.
===Indian Involvement and intervention===
India had, intially under [[Indira Gandhi]]<ref name=Manshingh>'''India's search for power:Indira Gandhi's Foreign Policy.1966-1982.''' Mansingh S. New Delhi:Sage 1984. p282</ref><ref name=rediffcomment>[http://www.rediff.com/news/dec/01mitra.htm '''A commission, before it proceeded to draw up criminal proceedings against others, must recommend Indira Gandhi's posthumous prosecution''' Mitra A. Rediff on Net]</ref>and later under [[Rajiv Gandhi]], provided support to Tamil interests from the very conception of the secessionist movement. This included providing sanctuary to the separatists, as well as support the operations training camps for Tamil [[guerrillas]] in [[Tamil Nadu]]<ref name=Haggerty>'''India's Regional Security Doctrine.'''
Hagerty D.T. Asian Survey, Vol. 31, No. 4. (Apr., 1991), pp. 351-363</ref> of which the LTTE emerged as the strongest force. This was both as a result of a large Tamil community in [[South India]], as well as India's Regional security and interests which attempted to reduce the scope foreign intervention, especially those linked to the [[United States]], [[Pakistan]], and [[China]].<ref name=Haggerty/> To this end, the [[Indian Government|Indira Gandhi Government]] sought to make it clear to the Sri Lankan President, [[Junius Richard Jayewardene|Jayewardene]] that armed intervention in support of the Tamil movement was an option India would consider if any diplomatic solutions should fail.<ref name=Haggerty/> The first round of civil violence flared in [[1983]] when the killing of 13 soldiers of the [[Sri Lankan army]] [[Black July|sparked anti-Tamil riots]] in which nearly four hundred Tamils were killed. The riots only aided in the deterioration of the already worsening ethnic strife, the militant factions, notably the [[LTTE]], at this time recruited in large numbers and continued building on popular Tamil dissent and stepped up the [[guerrilla]] activities. By [[May]] [[1985]], the guerrillas were strong enough to launch an attack on [[Anuradhapura]], attacking the [[Sri Maha Bodhi|Bodhi Tree shrine]]&ndash;a sacred site for Buddhist Sinhalese&ndash;followed by a rampage through the town. At least 150 civilians died in the hour-long attack. However,after Gandhi's assassination, the Indian support for the millitant movement wained at the very time the violence escalated. [[Rajiv Gandhi]]'s government attempted to re-establish friendly relations with its neighbours. It still however maintained diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the conflict as well as maintaining covert aid to the Tamil rebels.<ref name=Haggerty/><ref name=fo>[http://www.fas.org/irp/world/india/raw/ Research and Analysis Wing. Fas.org]</ref>


India's battle in Sri Lanka is often called 'India's Vietnam' by international media, by way of comparison to American military involvement in the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ozy.com/flashback/indias-vietnam-moment-the-ill-advised-war-that-ended-in-humiliation/81702|title=INDIA'S 'VIETNAM MOMENT': THE ILL-ADVISED WAR THAT ENDED IN HUMILIATION |website=ozy.com|date=15 December 2017|author=Charu Sudan Kasturi |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/indian-army-sri-lanka-ltte-liberation-tigers-of-tamil-eelam-jaffna-indian-peace-keeping-force-ipkf-in-fact-on-indian-military-decisions-of-today-shadow-of-a-pyrrhic-victory-yesterday-4887671/|title=On Indian military decisions of today, shadow of a pyrrhic victory yesterday|website=Indian Express|date=13 October 2017|author=Sushant Singh|access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref>
The Sri Lankan government, deducing a decline in support for the Tamil rebels from India, started rearming itself extensively for its anti-insuregent role with support from [[Pakistan]],[[Israel]],[[Singapore]] and [[South Africa]].<ref name=Haggerty/><ref name=Bobb>'''The Colombo Chill'''. Bobb D.[[India Today]].March 31.1986. p95.</ref> In 1986, the campaign against the insurgency was stepped up and in 1987, retaliating an increasingly bloody insurgent movement, [[Operation Liberation]] was launched against LTTE strongholds in Jaffna Peninsula, involving nearly four thousand troops, supported by [[helicopter gunships]] as well as [[Ground attack aircraft]]s.<ref name=Haggerty/> In June 1987, the Sri Lankan Army laid siege on the town of [[Jaffna]].<ref name=NYT>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9B0DE0D8173FF936A35755C0A961948260&n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fIndia India Airlifts Aid to Tamil Rebels"], ''[[The New York Times]]''. 5 June 1987</ref> This resulted in large-scale civilian casualties and created a condition of [[humanitarian crisis]].<ref name=BS>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1987/Chapter02.html "Operation Poomalai - India Intervenes" Bharat-rakshak.com]</ref> India, which had a substantial Tamil population in [[South India]] faced the prospect of a Tamil backlash at home, called on the Sri Lankan government to halt the offensive in an attempt to negotiate a political settlement. However, the Indian efforts were futile.Added to this, in the growing involvement of [[Pakistan]]i and [[Isreal]]i advisors, it was necessary for Indian interest to mount a show of force.<ref name=Haggerty/> Failing to negotiate an end to the crisis with Sri Lanka, India announced on [[2 June]] 1987 that it wound send a convoy of unarmed ships to northern Sri Lanka to provide humanitarian assistance<ref name= NYT1>"Indians To Send convoy to Sri Lanka", ''[[The New York Times]]''. 2 June 1987</ref>but this was intercepted by the Srilankan Navy and turned back.<ref name=NYT2>"Indian Flotilla is turned back by Sri Lankan Naval Vessels", ''[[The New York Times]]''. 4 June 1987</ref>


==Background==
Following the failure of the naval mission, the decision was made&ndash; the decision was made by the [[Indian Government]] to mount an airdrop of relief supplies in support of rebel forces over the besieged city of [[Jaffna]]. On [[4 June]] [[1987]], in a blatant [[Show of force]], the [[Indian Air Force]] mounted [[Operation Poomalai]] in broad daylight. Five [[An-32]]s under fighter cover flew over Jaffna to airdrop 25 tons of supplies, all the time keeping well within the range of Sri Lanan radar coverage. At the same time the Sri Lankan Ambassador to New Delhi was summoned to the Foreign Office to be informed by the [[Indian Foreign Minister#Minister of State.2C External Affairs|Minister External Affairs]], [[K. Natwar Singh]], of the ongoing operation and also indicated that the operation was expected not to be hindered by the [[Sri Lankan Air Force]]. The ultimate aim of the operation was both to demonstrate the credibility of the Indian option of active intervention to the Sri Lankan Government, as a sympbolic act of support for the Tamil Rebels, as well to preserve [[Rajiv Gandhi]]'s credibillity.<ref name=BS/>
{{See also|Operation Poomalai}}
Sri Lanka, from the early 1980s, was facing increasingly violent ethnic strife in the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]]. The [[origins of the Sri Lankan Civil War]] can be traced to the [[Sri Lankan independence movement|independence of Sri Lanka]] in 1948, after the end of [[British Ceylon|British rule]]. At the time, a [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] majority government was instituted. This government, which included the Tamil Congress, passed legislation deemed discriminatory by some against the [[Tamils of Sri Lanka|Tamil]] minority in Sri Lanka.


In the 1970s, two major Tamil [[List of political parties in Sri Lanka|parties]], the [[Tamil Congress]] and a split, the [[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi|Federal Party]] united to form the [[Tamil United Liberation Front]] (TULF), a [[Separatism|separatist]] Tamil nationalist group that agitated for a separate state of [[Tamil Eelam]] in north and eastern Sri Lanka<ref name= GlobSec>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/ltte.htm|title=Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), World Tamil Association (WTA), World Tamil Movement (WTM), Federation of Associations of Canadian Tamils (FACT), Ellalan Force. GlobalSecurity.org|author=John Pike|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref> that would grant the Tamils greater autonomy within the [[Federalism|federal]] structure.
===The Indo-Sri Lanka Accord===
{{Main|Indo-Sri Lanka Accord}}


However, the Sixth Amendment to the [[Constitution of Sri Lanka]], enacted in August 1983, classified all separatist movements as unconstitutional,<ref name=Hennayake>'''The Peace Accord and the Tamils in Sri Lanka.'''Hennayake S.K. Asian Survey, Vol. 29, No. 4. (Apr. 1989), pp. 401–415.</ref> Outside the TULF, Tamil factions advocating more militant courses of action soon emerged, and the ethnic divisions eventually led to violent civil war.<ref name= GlobSec/>
Following [[Operation Poomalai]], faced with the possibility of an active Indian intervention and lacking any possible ally, the President, [[J. R. Jayewardene]], offered to hold talks with the [[Rajiv Gandhi]] government on future moves.<ref name=NYT/> The siege of Jaffna was soon lifted, followed by a round of negotiations that led to the signing of the [[Indo-Sri-Lankan accord]] on July 29, 1987<ref name=USDS>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5249.htm ''Background Note: Sri Lanka''. U.S Dept. of State]</ref> that brought a temporary truce. Ducially however, the negotiations did not include the LTTE as a party to the talks.


===Indian involvement and intervention===
The signing of the [[Indo-Sri-Lankan accord]] on [[29 July]] [[1987]]<ref name=USDS>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5249.htm '''Background Note: Sri Lanka'''. U.S Dept. of State]</ref> brought a temporary truce to the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]]. Under the terms of the agreement,<ref name= iclq>[http://iclq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/37/3/551.pdf '''ETHNIC POLITICS AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: THE INDO-SRI LANKAN ACCORD. Marasinghe M.L. Int Compa Law Q.Vol. 37. p551-587]</ref><ref name=atimes>[http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD13Df02.html '''Sri Lanka: The Untold Story Chapter 35: Accord turns to discord]</ref>
Initially, under [[Indira Gandhi]]<ref name=Manshingh>'''India's search for power:Indira Gandhi's Foreign Policy.1966–1982.''' Mansingh S. New Delhi:Sage 1984. p282</ref><ref name=rediffcomment>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/dec/01mitra.htm|title='''A commission, before it proceeded to draw up criminal proceedings against others, must recommend Indira Gandhi's posthumous prosecution''' Mitra A. Rediff on Net|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref> and later under [[Rajiv Gandhi]], the Indian Government sympathised with the Tamil insurrection in Sri Lanka because of the strong support for the Tamil cause within the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Emboldened by this support, supporters in Tamil Nadu provided a sanctuary for the separatists and helped the LTTE smuggle arms and ammunition into Sri Lanka, making them the strongest force on the island. In fact in 1982, the LTTE supremo Prabhakran was arrested by the police in Tamil Nadu, for a shoot-out with his rival Uma Maheswaran, in the middle of the city. Both of them were arrested and later released by the police. This activity was left unchecked as India's regional and domestic interests wanted to limit foreign intervention on what was deemed as an ethnic issue between the Tamils and the Sinhalese. To this end, the Indira Gandhi government sought to make it clear to Sri Lankan president [[Junius Richard Jayewardene]] that armed intervention in support of the Tamil movement was an option India would consider if diplomatic solutions should fail.<ref name=Haggerty>'''India's Regional Security Doctrine.'''
[[Colombo]] agreed to a devolution of power to the provinces the Sri Lankan troops were withdraw to their barracks in the north, the Tamil rebels were to disarm.<ref name= TamilNation>[http://www.tamilnation.org/intframe/india/88saty.htm '''New Delhi & the Tamil Struggle. The Indo Sri Lanka Agreement'''. Satyendra N. Tamil Nation]</ref>
Hagerty D.T. Asian Survey, Vol. 31, No. 4. (Apr. 1991), pp. 351–363</ref>


The first round of civil violence flared in 1983 when the killing of [[Four Four Bravo|13 soldiers]] of the [[Sri Lanka Army]], sparked anti-Tamil [[pogrom]]s—the [[Black July]] riots—in which approximately 3000 Tamils were killed. The riots only aided in the deterioration of the ethnic relations. Militant factions, including the LTTE, at this time recruited in large numbers and continued building on popular Tamil dissent and stepped up the [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla war]]. By May 1985, the guerrillas were strong enough to launch an attack on [[Anuradhapura]], attacking the [[Sri Maha Bodhi|Bodhi Tree shrine]]–a sacred site for Buddhist Sinhalese–followed by a rampage through the town. At least 150 civilians died in the hour-long attack.
===The mandate for the IPKF===
Among the provisions undersigned by the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord was the commitment of Indian military assistance should this be requested for by the Sri Lankan Government, as well as the provision —also if requested by Colombo— of an Indian Peace Keeping Force that would "garuantee and enforce the cessation of hostillties".<ref name=iclq/><ref name=Haggerty/> It was on these grounds, and on the request of President [[J. R. Jayewardene]], that Indian troops were inducted to Northern Sri Lanka. [[J N Dixit]], the then Indian [[ambassador]] to Colombo, in an interview to [[rediff.com]] in [[2000]] described that ostensibly, Jayawardene's decision to request Indian assistance came in the face of increasing civil riots and violence within the southern Sinhala majority areas, including the capital [[Colombo]] that were initiated by the [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]] and the [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]] that necessiated the withdrawal of the [[Sri Lankan Army]] from the Tamil areas of Northern Sri Lanka to maintain order.<ref name= dixitrediff>[http://in.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/24lanka.htm '''J N Dixit''' (ex-Indian Ambassador to Colombo) speaking to Rediff.com]</ref>
It was under these conditions that the IPKF entered Sri Lanka.


Rajiv Gandhi's government attempted to re-establish friendly relations with the various factions in Sri Lanka while maintaining diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the conflict as well as limiting overt aid to the Tamil militants.<ref name=Haggerty/><ref name=fo>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/irp/world/india/raw/|title=Research and Analysis Wing. Fas.org|work=Federation of American Scientists|access-date=26 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130422025807/http://www.fas.org/irp/world/india/raw/|archive-date=22 April 2013}}</ref>
==The Indian Peace Keeping Force==
Originally a reinforced division with small naval and air elements, the IPKF at its peak deployed four divisions and nearly 100,000 men with one mountain (4th) and three Infantry Divisions (36th, 54th, 57th) as well as supporting arms and services. At the peak of its operational deployment, IPKF operations also included a large [[Indian Paramilitary Force]] and Indian [[Special Forces of India|Special Forces]] elements. Indeed Sri Lanka was first theatre of operation for the [[MARCOS|Indian Navy Commoandos]]. The main deployment of the IPKF was in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. Apon its withdraw from Sri Lanka the IPKF was renamed the 37th Corps and became a sort-of quick reaction force for the Indian army.


The Sri Lankan government, deducing a decline in support for the Tamil rebels from India, began rearming itself extensively for its anti-insurgent role with support from Pakistan, Israel, Singapore, and South Africa.<ref name=Haggerty/><ref name=Bobb>'''The Colombo Chill'''. Bobb D. ''[[India Today]]''. 31 March 1986. p. 95.</ref> In 1986, the campaign against the insurgency was stepped up. In 1987, retaliating against an increasingly bloody insurgent movement, the [[Vadamarachchi Operation]] (Operation Liberation) was launched against LTTE strongholds in Jaffna Peninsula. The operation involved nearly 10,000 troops, supported by [[Attack helicopter|helicopter gunships]] as well as [[ground-attack aircraft]].<ref name=Haggerty/> In June 1987, the Sri Lankan Army laid siege on the town of [[Jaffna]].<ref name=NYT>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9B0DE0D8173FF936A35755C0A961948260&n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fIndia India Airlifts Aid to Tamil Rebels"], ''[[The New York Times]]''. 5 June 1987</ref> This resulted in large-scale civilian casualties and created a condition of [[humanitarian crisis]].<ref name=BS>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1987/Chapter02.html "Operation Poomalai – India Intervenes" Bharat-rakshak.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907053333/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1987/Chapter02.html |date=7 September 2006 }}</ref> India, which had a substantial Tamil population in [[South India]] faced the prospect of a Tamil backlash at home, called on the Sri Lankan government to halt the offensive in an attempt to negotiate a political settlement. However, the Indian efforts were unheeded. Added to this, in the growing involvement of Pakistani advisers, it was necessary for Indian interest to mount a show of force.<ref name=Haggerty/> Failing to negotiate an end to the crisis with Sri Lanka, India announced on 2 June 1987 that it wound send a convoy of unarmed ships to northern Sri Lanka to provide humanitarian assistance<ref name= NYT1>"Indians To Send convoy to Sri Lanka", ''[[The New York Times]]''. 2 June 1987</ref> but this was intercepted by the Sri Lankan Navy and forced to turned back.<ref name=NYT2>"Indian Flotilla is turned back by Sri Lankan Naval Vessels," ''[[The New York Times]]''. 4 June 1987</ref>
===IPKF Order of Battle===
The first troops to be inducted into Sri Lanka was a ten thousand strong force from the 54th Infantry division, comprised of elements of the [[Sikh Light Infantry]], the [[Maratha Light Infantry]] and the [[Mahar Regiment]] which flew into [[Kankesanturai Airport|Palay airbase]] ,<ref name=rediffstory>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/may/22lanka.htm '''Sri Lanka- war without end, peace without hope.''' Colonel(retd) A A Athale]</ref> from July 30 onwards. This was followed later by the 36th Infantry division. By August, the 54th Infantry Division under the command of Maj Gen [[Harkirat Singh]] and the 340th Indian Inf Bde had landed in Sri Lanka. By 1987, the IPKF comprised of-<ref name=BSop>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1987/Chapter02.html '''Operation Poomalai - India Intervenes'''. Bharat-rakshak.com]</ref>


Following the failure of the naval mission the decision was made by the Indian government to mount an airdrop of relief supplies in aid of the beleaguered civilians over the besieged city of [[Jaffna]]. On 4 June 1987, in a bid to provide relief, the [[Indian Air Force]] mounted [[Operation Poomalai]]. Five [[Antonov An-32]]s under [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]] cover flew over Jaffna to airdrop 25 tons of supplies, all the time keeping well within the range of Sri Lankan radar coverage. At the same time the Sri Lankan Ambassador to New Delhi, [[Bernard Tilakaratna]], was summoned to the Foreign Office to be informed by the [[Indian Foreign Minister|Minister of State, External Affairs]], [[K. Natwar Singh]], of the ongoing operation and also indicated that the operation was expected not to be hindered by the [[Sri Lankan Air Force]]. The ultimate aim of the operation was both to demonstrate the seriousness of the domestic Tamil concern for the civilian Tamil population and reaffirming the Indian option of active intervention to the Sri Lankan government.<ref name=BS/>
*'''54th Infantry Division.''' (Maj. Gen. Harkirat Singh GOC, [[Brigadier]] Kulwant Singh, Dy GOC):-


===Indo-Sri Lanka Accord===
•10 [[Para Commando]]. (Jaffna)
{{Main|Indo-Sri Lanka Accord}}


Following [[Operation Poomalai]], faced with the possibility of an active Indian intervention and lacking any possible ally, the President, [[J. R. Jayewardene]], offered to hold talks with the Rajiv Gandhi government on future moves.<ref name=NYT/> The siege of Jaffna was soon lifted, followed by a round of negotiations that led to the signing of the [[Indo-Sri Lankan Accord]] on 29 July 1987<ref name=USDS>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5249.htm|title=Sri Lanka}}</ref> that brought a temporary truce. Crucially however, the negotiations did not include the LTTE as a party to the talks.
•65 Armoured Regiment (originally with [[T-54]] tanks and later with [[T-72]]'s).


The signing of the [[Indo-Sri Lankan Accord]] on 29 July 1987<ref name=USDS/> brought a temporary truce to the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]]. Under the terms of the agreement,<ref name=iclq>{{cite web|url=http://iclq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/37/3/551.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616151154/http://iclq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/37/3/551.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 June 2007 |title='''ETHNIC POLITICS AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: THE INDO-SRI LANKAN ACCORD'''. Marasinghe M.L. Int Compa Law Q.Vol. 37. p551-587 |access-date=26 November 2014 }}</ref><ref name=atimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD13Df02.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20021001211331/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD13Df02.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=1 October 2002|title=Sri Lanka: The Untold Story Chapter 35: Accord turns to discord|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref>
•91 Infantry Brigade (Jaffna)
[[Colombo]] agreed to a devolution of power to the provinces, the Sri Lankan troops were withdrawn to their barracks in the north, the Tamil rebels were to disarm.<ref name=TamilNation>{{cite web |url=http://www.tamilnation.org/intframe/india/88saty.htm |title='''New Delhi & the Tamil Struggle. The Indo Sri Lanka Agreement'''. Satyendra N. Tamil Nation |access-date=26 November 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


==Mandate==
•5 Madras Bn
Amongst the provisions undersigned by the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord was the commitment of Indian military assistance should this be requested for by the Sri Lankan Government, as well as the provision of an Indian Peace Keeping Force that would "guarantee and enforce the cessation of hostilities".<ref name=Haggerty/><ref name=iclq/> It was on these grounds, and on the request of President [[J. R. Jayewardene]], that Indian troops were inducted to Northern Sri Lanka. [[J N Dixit]], the then Indian ambassador to Colombo, in an interview to [[rediff.com]] in 2000 described that ostensibly, Jayawardene's decision to request Indian assistance came in the face of increasing civil riots and violence within the southern Sinhalese majority areas, including the capital [[Colombo]] that were initiated by the [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]] and the [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]] that necessitated the withdrawal of the Sri Lankan Army from the Tamil areas of northern Sri Lanka to maintain order.<ref name= dixitrediff>{{cite web|url=http://in.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/24lanka.htm|title='''J N Dixit''' (ex-Indian Ambassador to Colombo) speaking to Rediff.com|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref>


==Order of battle==
•8 Mahar Bn
Originally a reinforced division with small naval and air elements, the IPKF at its peak deployed four divisions and nearly 80,000 men with one mountain (4th) and three Infantry Divisions (36th, [[54th Infantry Division (India)|54th]], 57th) as well as supporting arms and services. At the peak of its operational deployment, IPKF operations also included a large [[Indian Paramilitary Force]] and [[Special Forces of India|Indian Special Forces]] elements. Indeed, Sri Lanka was first theatre of active operation for the [[MARCOS|Indian Navy Commandos]]. The main deployment of the IPKF was in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. Upon its withdrawal from Sri Lanka the IPKF was renamed the [[XXI Corps (India)|21st Corps]] and was headquartered near [[Bhopal]] and became a [[quick reaction force]] for the Indian Army.


===Indian Army===
•1 [[Maratha LI]] Bn
The first [[Indian Army]] troops to be deployed to Sri Lanka were a ten thousand strong force from the [[54th Infantry Division (India)|54th Infantry Division]] commanded by [[Major General]] [[Harkirat Singh (general)|Harkirat Singh]], which flew into [[Jaffna Airport|Palali Airbase]] from 30 July onwards.<ref name=rediffstory>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/may/22lanka.htm|title='''Sri Lanka- war without end, peace without hope.''' Colonel(retd) A A Athale|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref> This was followed later by the 36th Infantry Division.


By 1987, the IPKF consisted of:<ref name=BS/>
•76 Infantry Brigade (Brigadier I.M. Dhar) (Munnar, Vavuniya, Mulliativu)
* '''[[54th Infantry Division (India)|54 Infantry Division]]'''
** 10th Battalion, [[Parachute Regiment (India)|Parachute Regiment]] ([[Para (Special Forces)|Special Forces]])
** [[65th Armoured Regiment (India)|65 Armoured Regiment]], equipped with [[T-72]] tanks.<ref name="65 Armd Regt APO Postal Cover">{{cite web|url=https://www.philamart.com/Listing/Details/3065177/65-Armoured-RegimentIndian-Army-Postal-Cover-APO|title=65 Armoured Regiment-Indian Army Postal Cover (APO)|access-date=2020-11-28|archive-date=7 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207100919/https://www.philamart.com/Listing/Details/3065177/65-Armoured-RegimentIndian-Army-Postal-Cover-APO|url-status=dead}}</ref>
** 6th Battalion, [[Brigade of the Guards]]
** 91 Infantry Brigade
*** 5th Battalion, [[Madras Regiment]]
*** 8th Battalion, [[Mahar Regiment]]
*** 1st Battalion, [[Maratha Light Infantry]]
** 76 Infantry Brigade
*** 12th Battalion, [[Garhwal Rifles]]
*** 2nd Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry
*** 25th Battalion, [[Rajput Regiment]]<ref name="Firstmech">{{cite web|url=https://frontierindia.com/first-born-mech-indian-army-15th-battalion-the-mechanised-infantry-regiment-in-op-pawan/|title=FIRST BORN MECH – Indian Army 15th Battalion, the Mechanised Infantry Regiment in Op Pawan|date=2022-08-02|access-date=2022-08-16}}</ref>
** 47 Infantry Brigade
*** 11th Battalion, Madras Regiment
*** 5th Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry
*** 14th Battalion, [[Sikh Light Infantry]]
* '''36 Infantry Division'''{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}
** 115 Infantry Brigade
*** 5th Battalion, [[1 Gorkha Rifles]]
** 72 Infantry Brigade
*** 4th Battalion, [[5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force)]].
*** 13th Battalion, Sikh Light Infantry
** 41 Infantry Brigade
*** 5th Battalion, [[Rajputana Rifles]]
* '''57 Infantry Division'''
* '''[[4th Infantry Division (India)|4 Mountain Division]]'''
*'''Independent Units'''
** 340 Independent Infantry Brigade (Amphibious)
***1 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (later part of 57 Inf Div)
***26 Punjab
***25 Madras
***3 Punjab
** 18 Infantry Brigade
*** 4th Battalion, [[Mahar Regiment]]
*** 12th Battalion, Grenadiers
** 5th Battalion, Parachute Regiment
** 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Special forces)
** 9th Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Special forces)
** 13th Battalion, Brigade of the Guards
** 4th Battalion, Assam Regiment
** 15th Battalion Mechanised Infantry Regiment<ref name="Firstmech"/>
** 25th Battalion Mechanised Infantry Regiment
** [[17 (Parachute) Field Regiment (India)|17 Parachute Field Regiment]]
** 831 Light Regiment
** 8 Engineer Regiment
** 110 Engineer Regiment


===Indian Air Force===
•47 Infantry Brigade (Trincomalee-Batticoloa-Amparai)
Soon after its intervention in Sri Lanka and especially after the confrontation with the LTTE, the IPKF received a substantial
commitment from the [[Indian Air Force]], mainly transport and helicopter squadrons under the command of Gp.Capt. M.P Premi, including:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1987IPKF/Pushpindar01.html |title=The Indian Air Force in Sri Lanka |access-date=2007-12-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918231736/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1987IPKF/Pushpindar01.html |archive-date=18 September 2007 }} The Indian Air Force in Sri Lanka</ref>
* No. 33 Squadron- [[Antonov An-32]]s
* No 109 and No. 119 Helicopter Units – [[Mil Mi-8]] helicopters.
* No. 125 HU – [[Mil Mi-24]]s.
* No. 664 AOP Squadron [[Aérospatiale Alouette III|Chetak]] and [[Aérospatiale Alouette II|Cheetah]]


===Indian Navy===
•340 Independent Infantry Brigade. (Trincomalee)
The Indian Navy regularly rotated naval vessels through Sri Lanka waters, mostly smaller vessels such as patrol boats.
* [[Indian Naval Air Arm]]
** No. 321 Squadron of the [[Indian Navy]] – HAL Chetaks
** No. 310 Squadron of the Indian Navy – [[Breguet Alizé]]
* [[MARCOS (India)|MARCOS]] (also the Marine Commando Force or MCF) – Took part in [[Operation Pawan]] (Hindi, "wind") in 1987 and in the raid on an LTTE base at [[Gurunagar]]. MARCOS operators (including Lt Singh) boarded two Gemini rafts off the coast of Jaffna City and towed two wooden rafts of explosives into a channel leading to the city's Guru Nagar Jetty. Avoiding mines, eight men and two officers shifted to the wooden rafts and paddled to the jetty then fixed demolition charges to the jetty and LTTE speedboats. The commandos were detected but laid down suppressive fire and detonated the explosives before retreating to the Geminis without taking casualties. Two nights later, commandos swam back into the harbour amidst heavy patrolling by the LTTE to destroy the remaining speedboats. They were again detected and sustained minor injuries. These actions helped recapture Trincomalee and Jaffna harbours from the LTTE. For leading these actions, the 30-year-old Lieutenant Arvind Singh became the youngest officer to receive the [[Maha Vir Chakra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/arvind-singh|title=Arvind Singh MVC|access-date=2021-01-03}}</ref>


===Indian paramilitary forces===
*'''36 Infantry Division.'''<ref name=pakdef>[http://www.pakdef.info/pids/pids2/research/ipkf.html '''Indian Peace Keeping Mission in Sri Lanka.''' India's Vietnam]</ref>
* [[Central Reserve Police Force]]
•115 Infantry Brigade.(Jaffna)
* [[Indian Coast Guard]]


==Combat operations==
•72 Infantry Brigade.(Jaffna)
{{Main|Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War}}


==Analysis==
•4 Bn./5 [[Gorkha Regiment]].
===Casualties===
•13 [[Sikh LI]] Bn.
In December 1999, Defence Minister George Fernandes disclosed the IPKF had suffered 1,165 personnel killed in action with 3,009 others wounded.<ref name="burden">{{cite web|title=Economic Burden by Sending IPKF in Sri Lanka|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1999-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1999-12-15_300.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India – Archive|date=15 December 1999|access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> The LTTE casualties are not known.
•41 Infantry Brigade. (Jaffna)


===Intelligence failures===
•5 [[Rajputana Rifles]]
The Indian intelligence agencies failed to consistently provide accurate information to Indian forces. One example is the [[Jaffna football ground massacre]]. The LTTE's [[disinformation]] machinery leaked fake information to the Indian army that the LTTE leader [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]] was hiding in a building near the Jaffna university football ground.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} A major operational plan was chalked out by the Indian generals to capture him alive. The plan involved airdropping commandos on the ground, while tank formations would move to surround the area, to prevent anyone from the stadium and its surrounding buildings to escape.


However, when the plan was executed, the Indian troops came under heavy attack from hidden LTTE sharpshooters. the tanks moving on the ground were ensnared by anti-tank mines placed by the LTTE militants. This resulted in heavy losses for the Indian side.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} According to later accounts, the LTTE leader, Prabhakaran was not in the area at the time of the operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DF08Df01.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802170437/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DF08Df01.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=2002-08-02|title=Asia Times: India/Pakistan|website=atimes.com}}</ref>
*18 Infantry Brigade. (Jaffna)


The IPKF complained that accurate maps of the operational theaters were not made available to them by the various intelligence agencies.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}
•5 Para Bn.


There was also a case where an agent of [[Research and Analysis Wing]] (RAW) was killed in an ambush set up by the IPKF. He had been acting on orders to carry out back channel diplomacy and peace talks with the [[LTTE]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}
Later on during the conflict, the IPKF would draw 57th Infantry Division, trained in jungle warfare, and 4th Mountain division.


==Impact==
==Conflict with LTTE==
The IPKF mission while having gained tactical successes, did not succeed in its intended goals. The primary impact of the IPKF, has been that it shaped India's [[counterinsurgency]] techniques and military doctrine. The political fallout, the IPKF casualties, as well as the deterioration of international relations has shaped India's foreign policy towards the Sri Lankan conflict.
{{Seealso|Operation Pawan|Jaffna University Helidrop|Operation Trishul|Operation Viraat|Operation Checkmate}}


===Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi===
The LTTE had enjoyed support from India till the IPKF started getting inducted.<ref name=fo>[http://www.fas.org/irp/world/india/raw/ '''Research and Analysis Wing'''. Fas.org]</ref> However,not having been party to the negotiations leading up to the accord, it agreed to the truce only reluctantly. The Tigers had rejected the Provincial Council framework as inadequate and [[Prabhakaran]] had protested against the Indian military intervention.<ref name= TN>[http://www.tamilnation.org/intframe/india/90ltte.htm '''New Delhi & the Tamil Struggle- An Amoral Role.''' A Post Mortem on the Indian Intervention. Tamilnation.org]</ref> The Tigers resisted the spread what was deemed India's self-serving aim of binding Sri Lanka into India's geo political sphere of Influence,<ref name= TN/> as well as a symapthy for Sri Lanka's ruling Sinhala community in India outside the support-base in [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name= TN/> With the induction of the Indian troops, the Tigers initially complied by surrendering arms along the terms of the truce. However, the opposition to the induction of Indian troops soon flared into active confrontation. Along with this, there developed an increasingly brutal confrontation within Tamil factions, with allegations that the LTTE, predominantly a Northern Tamil powerbase, was attempting to destroy both the [[People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam|PLOTE]] and the [[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front|EPRLF]], which represented more of the Eastern provinces.<ref name=UTHRJ/><ref name=Bryan>'''Sri Lanka in 1987: Indian Intervention and Resurgence of the JVP.''' Pfaffenberger B. Asian Survey, Vol. 28, No. 2, A Survey of Asia in 1987: Part II. (Feb., 1988), pp. 137-147.</ref> The LTTE [[boycot]]ted the elections that were held in October and November 1988 along the lines outlined in the accord.<ref name= assalgat>
The decision to send the IPKF in Sri Lanka was taken by then Prime Minister of India, [[Rajiv Gandhi]], who held office until 1989. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at a rally at [[Sriperumbudur]] on 21 May 1991, while he was campaigning for re-election during the [[1991 Indian general election]], by a LTTE [[suicide bomber]] named [[Thenmuli Rajaratnam|Dhanu]].
[http://in.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/25lanka.htm '''The day the elected government was in place, the military role of the IPKF was over'''. Lt. Gen A S Kalkat, speaking to rediff.com]</ref> The Indian administration had not expected opposition from the Tigers<ref name= dixitrediff/> and was initially taken unaware. The support for Tamil Nationalism in India also raised the spectre to the Indian Govt. of a possible situation of Tamil [[secession]]ist movement in [[Tamil Nadu]]<ref name=JCR>[http://www.tamilnation.org/intframe/india/jaincommission/vol5/ch1sec6.html '''Jain Commission Interim Report.'''Growth of Sri Lankan Tamil Militancy in Tamil Nadu.Chapter I - Phase II (1987-1988)]</ref><ref name=TN/><ref name=Bryan/> However, faced with growing diligence from her erst-while partner, India adopted a stragy of aiding alternative Tamil power bases, including the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front,<ref name= GenHK>[http://in.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/31lanka.htm '''Shoot Prabhakaran, shoot Mahathiah!'''. Gen Harikat Singh speaking to Josy Joseph on the IPKF role. rediff.com]</ref> which ultimately emerged strongly in the November 1988 elections, and at the same time continue negotiations with the LTTE.<ref name=GenHK/> At the same time, however, Sinhalese nationalists, led by the [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna|JVP]] loathed the foreign presence on their soil.{{ref|1}}


===India's foreign policy===
Two incidences that occurred in September-October 1987 marked the turning point of Indo-LTTE relationship. The first of these was the [[hunger strike]] and subsequent death of [[Thileepan|Lt. Col. Thileepan]], a popular political wing leader of the LTTE, on [[26 September]], [[1987]]. Thileepan had begun his fast in protest against what was termed the failures of the Indian forces to satisfy the political demands of the Tamils,{{ref|8}} and his death was mourned throughout the Tamil community and fuelled a growing dissatisfaction and impatience with the pace of promised reforms. In addition it was huge propaganda victory for the LTTE, which started taking an increasingly hard line in the negotiations for the Interim Provincial Council.<ref name=Bryan/> The talks broke down.
The IPKF intervention in Sri Lanka is raised at times in Indian political discourse whenever the situation in Sri Lanka shows signs of deterioration or, more broadly, when other foreign nations, ought to have a role in promoting peace on the island nation. India has never been directly involved in the peace talks between the LTTE and Sri Lanka but has supported Norway's efforts. As a result, relations between India and Sri Lanka became extremely sour. No defence pact has been signed between India and Sri Lanka even though India reaffirmed its strong defence cooperation with Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Srinivasan|first=Meera|date=5 March 2021|title=India reaffirms defence ties at SLAF 70th year event|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-reaffirms-defence-ties-at-slaf-70th-year-event/article33999321.ece|access-date=11 June 2021|website=The Hindu}}</ref>
However, on [[4 October]][[1988]], the [[Sri Lankan Navy]] captured an LTTE boat off [[Point Pedro]] with seventeen Tigers, including some high-profile leaders of the movement, onboard.<ref name= UTHR>[http://www.uthr.org/BP/volume2/Chapter1.htm '''Background to the Breakdown of the Accord.''' University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna), Sri Lanka]</ref> The Colombo govt alleged the boat was involved in smuggling arms across the [[Palk Strait]]s and on the grounds denied immunity to these captured Tiger rebels.<ref name= UTHR/> The LTTE denied this claiming the rebels movement were in accordance with the truce, being in the process of transferring documents for shifting the Tigers Headquarters from [[Madras]] to Jaffna. The Sinhalese govt. intended to bring a number of the rebels captured, including [[Pulendran]], [[Kumarappa]] and others, to trial in Colombo for allegedly masterminding the massacre of a hundred and fifty civilians.<ref name= UTHR/> The Tigers, who were at the time still in negotiation with the Indian authorities, appealed for enforcement of protection by the [[IPKF]]. The rebels were at this time in IPKF custody at [[Palay]] Airbase pending transfer to Sinhalese authorities. Although the Indian authorities insist that they had explained the possible repercussions<ref name= GenHK/> of such an action on the fragile truce and exerted considerable pressure on the Sinhalese authorities to desist from proceeding,<ref name=UTHR/> ultimately the IPKF withdrew allowing the Sri Lankan forces to proceed with transferring the captured rebels to Colombo. The detainees however, attempted [[mass suicide]] by swallowing [[cyanide]]- a common LTTE practice when faced imminent capture. This singular event marked a total break-down of the truce. The night of [[5 October]] saw large scale slaughter of Sinhalese people who had returned to Jaffna,<ref name=UTHR/> including eight troops of the Sri Lankan Army who were at the time being held hostages by the LTTE. These coincided by armed confrontations between the Tiger Cadres and the Indian Troops in and around Jaffna.<ref name= UTHR/>On [[8 October]], the LTTE carried out a number of [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] attacks and ambushes on the IPKF.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tamil Armed Resistance & the Law |url=http://www.tamilnation.org/tamileelam/armedstruggle/ipkf.htm |publisher=Tamil Nation |date=Unknown}}</ref>
In the face of this detoriating situation, President Jayawarene threatened the visiting [[Defence Minister of India|Indian Defence Minister]] and the [[Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army|Chief of Army Staff]] to re-induct the Sri Lankan Army to protect Sinhala interests if the IPKF did not take actions against the LTTE. The Indian government, already accused of inaction in the face of a failing accord, was forced into a position of having to enforce peace in Jaffna by Force.<ref name=JC8>[http://www.tamilnation.org/intframe/india/jaincommission/indo_sri_lanka_agreement/ch2sec8.html '''Jain Commission Interim Report. Indo-Sri Lankan Agreement: Evolution and its Aftermath. Chapter II - Indian Peace Keeping Force.''' Sourced from Tamil Nation]</ref><ref name=UTHR/> By [[7 October]], the COAS had issued directives to the IPKF, laying down its operations parameters in the directive<ref name=JC8/>as:


==War Crimes==
*Seize/destroy the LTTE radio/TV transmission equipment in the Jaffna Peninsula;
The IPKF role in the Sri Lankan conflict was criticised in both Sri Lanka and India. It perpetrated a number of [[human rights]] violations, including rapes and massacres of civilians. Several neutral organisations pointed out that the Indian Army acted with scant regard for civilian safety and violated human rights. This led to considerable outcry and public resentment within Sri Lanka as well as India, especially in [[Tamil Nadu]], where the IPKF was viewed as an invading and oppressing force.


Indian forces indulged in a number of civilian massacres, [[involuntary disappearances]] and rapes during their time in the [[Northeastern province of Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://nesohr.org/inception-sept2007/human-rights-reports/StatisticsOnCiviliansAffectedByWar.pdf|title= Statistics on civilians affected by war from 1974 – 2004|access-date= 2008-11-15|work= NESOHR|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090225211013/http://nesohr.org/inception-sept2007/human-rights-reports/StatisticsOnCiviliansAffectedByWar.pdf|archive-date= 25 February 2009|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name=CM/> These include complicity in the incidents such as [[1989 Valvettithurai massacre|Valvettithurai massacre]] in which on
*Seize or jam LTTE communication network;
2, 3, and 4 August 1989 over 50 Tamils were massacred by the Indian Peace Keeping Force in [[Valvettiturai|Valvettithurai]], Jaffna. In addition to the killings over 100 homes, shops and other property were also burnt and destroyed.<ref>{{cite news | last = Sebastian | first = Rita | title = Massacre at Point Pedro | pages = 8–9 | work = The Indian Express | date = 24 August 1989 }}</ref>


Another notable incident was the [[Jaffna teaching hospital massacre]] on 22 October 1987. Following a confrontation with Tamil militants near the hospital, IPKF forces quickly entered the hospital premises and massacred over 70 civilians. These civilians included patients, two doctors, three nurses and a [[Pediatrics|paediatric]] consultant who were all in uniform. The hospital never completely recovered after this massacre.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gunaratna|first=Rohan |title= Indian intervention in Sri Lanka: The role of India's intelligence agencies
*Carry out raids on LTTE camps, caches and strong points;
|publisher= South Asian Network on Conflict Research |year=1993 |isbn=955-95199-0-5 }} p.246</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Richardson|first=John |title= Paradise Poisoned: Learning About Conflict, Terrorism and Development from Sri Lanka's Civil Wars |publisher= International Centre for Ethnic Studies |year=2005 |isbn=955-580-094-4}} p.546</ref><ref name=Somasundaram1997>{{cite journal|author = Somasundaram, D.|year = 1997|title = Abandoning jaffna hospital: Ethical and moral dilemmas|journal = Medicine, Conflict and Survival|volume = 13|issue = 4|pages = 333–347|doi = 10.1080/13623699708409357}}</ref>


The IPKF was also accused of complicity in murder of [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] civilians. The then Sri Lankan government accused the [[Madras Regiment]] posted in the [[Trincomalee]] district of complicity, although the Indian officials denied responsibility, they withdrew the Madras Regiment from Trincomalee district.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD20Df03.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20020427122344/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD20Df03.html|url-status= unfit|archive-date= 2002-04-27|title=Chapter 36: Indians rule the roost |access-date=2007-01-30 |work=Asian Times}}</ref>
*Personnel manning LTTE offices in the East be detained and interrogated to gain information. In case of resistance,force to be used;


===Sexual violence===
*Actions to further consolidate hold of IPKF in the region.


From October 1987, the IPKF commenced war on the [[LTTE]] in order to disarm them. During this conflict, the IPKF raped thousands of Tamil women.<ref>Tamil Centre for Human Rights – Recorded figures of Arrests, Killings, Disappearances, Rapes, Displacements and Injuries to Tamils in the North East, Colombo and other regions (1956-2004) http://tchr.net/50_year_arrest_kill.htm</ref> One IPKF official excused these rapes by stating the following: "I agree that rape is a heinous crime. But my dear, all wars have them. There are psychological reasons for them such as battle fatigue."<ref name="uthr.org"/>
It was declared on [[9 October]] The that the IPKF was to launch a terminal campaign against the LTTE.<ref name=JC8/> This was the point of no return.
===Operation Pawan, October 1987===
{{Main|Operation Pawan}}
The first of the major IPKF operation was launched on 9 October 1987. Codenamed Operation Pawan ([[Hindi]]:Wind), it was expected to neutralise the LTTE operations capabillity in and around Jaffna. This included the capture or neutralisation of the LTTE's chain of command.<ref name=rediffintHK>[http://in.rediff.com/news/2000/apr/01lanka.htm '''Nobody sounded even a Last Post for our dead in Colombo.''' Gen Harikat Singh to Josy Joseph. rediff.com]</ref> which was expected to leave the rebel movement directionless in the face of the impending assault on the LTTE strongholds by the IPKF. On the nights of [[October 9]] and [[October 10]], the IPKF to raided and captured the LTTE radio station at Tavadi and TV station at [[Kokkuvil]], while the printing presses of two LTTE sponsored newspapers were destroyed.<ref name=JC8/> These operations also led to the capture of nearly two hundred Tiger rebels.<ref name=BSAAD>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1987IPKF/Chapter2.html Accord, Airlift, and Discord. Bharat-rakshak.com]</ref> In retaliation, the LTTE ambushed A [[CRPF]] convoy near Tellipallai, killing four jawans, as well as an IPKF post at Tellipallai with automatic and mortar fire on IPKF post. Later that day, the Tigers hijacked a 10 Para Commando jeep on patrol, killing all five occupants.<ref name=JC8/>
On [[October 10]], the Indian 91st Brigade, consisting of three battalions and led by Brigadier J. Ralli, began its push into the city of Jaffna.<ref name=BSOPPAW>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1987/Chapter03.html '''Operation Pawan- The Battle for Jaffna.''' Bharat-rakshak.com]</ref><ref name=Dagmar>'''The Tamil Militants-Before the Accord and After.''' Hellmann-Rajanayagam D.Pacific Affairs, Vol. 61, No. 4. (Winter, 1988-1989), pp. 603-619.</ref>


====The Jaffna University Helidrop====
==== 1987 ====
{{Main|Jaffna University Helidrop}}
The first battle signalling the earnest beginning of [[Operation Pawan]] was the [[Jaffna University Helidrop|Heliborne assault]] on Jaffna University head-quarters of the LTTE by a detachment of Indian [[Para Commandos]] and the [[Sikh LI]] on the night of [[12 October]]. [[Jaffna University]] was the tactical headquarters of the LTTE. This was planned as a quick commando raid to capture the top LTTE leadership and local commanders who, based on Indian Intelligence, were supposed to be in the building at the time.<ref name=BSJUHD>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1987IPKF/Chapter3.html '''Descent Into Danger. The Jaffna University Helidrop'''. Bharat-rakshak.com]</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tamil Armed Resistance & the Law |url=http://www.tamilnation.org/tamileelam/armedstruggle/ipkf.htm |publisher=Tamil Nation |date=Unknown}}</ref> and was thus expected to cut short the Battle for Jaffna. The plan was to land a company of 70 men from 10 Para Cdo. to secure the football field. A second wave was to follow with a company of the 13th Sikh LI. The heliborne troops were to link up with 4/[[5 Gorkhas]] of 72 Brigade and the Sikh LI troops advancing on the ground.<ref name=BSOPPAW/>
However, the operation ended in disaster as the LTTE, having intercepted IPKF radio transmissions, set up an ambush. The helidropped troops came under intense LTTE fire as they were inserted which, while increasingly vicious fire from LTTE positions hit and crippled the [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8s]] enough to force the insertion to be terminated midway through operation. Over the battle that lasted through the night, twenty nine of the entire Sikh LI contingent of thirty troops and six of the one hundred and twenty commandos were killed before detachments of the 65th armoured regiments were able to extract the Paras from their defensive positions.<ref name=BS/> The Sikh LI [[radioman]] was shot by LTTE [[sniper]]s early on, with the unit losing contact with the Indian High Command at [[Palay]] [[Air base]] and the lone survivor of the Sikh LI detachment, [[Sepoy Gora Singh]] was taken prisoner by the Tigers. It was not until his release later during the conflict that the fate of the unit was known.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tamil Armed Resistance & the Law |url=http://www.tamilnation.org/tamileelam/armedstruggle/ipkf.htm |publisher=Tamil Nation |date=Unknown}}</ref><ref name=BS/>


* On 6 November 1987, at about 7:30am the IPKF committed a massacre of Tamil civilians in Jaffna to avenge the loss of their comrades. One witness saw both his two daughters being stripped naked below the waist by [[Hindi]] speaking soldiers. The girls were both crying and begging for mercy. The soldiers then separated their legs and shot them through their genitals, keeping the rifle barrel between the thighs. The witness closed his eyes and played dead during the shooting. He also heard the two daughters of another man also being shot through the genitals. 10 Tamil civilians were killed in total during this massacre, including infants.<ref>At the hands of the IPFK – savagery beyond belief – Tamil Times, April 1988, p11</ref>
====Battle for Jaffna====
* On 12 November 1987, at about 8am in [[Jaffna]], three IPKF soldiers gang raped a Tamil mother in her mid 30s in her own home. Her husband was working abroad at the time. They also stole her gold jewellery. The victim reported suffering from nightmares following the attack and was haunted by the soldiers' faces and voices. She could still remember their beady eyes. She visited a psychiatrist who gave her drugs to quieten her down.<ref name="uthr.org"/>
* The IPKF also raped a 13 year old Tamil girl from a middle-class family in a house that had once been a [[LTTE|Tiger]] camp. The family and child fled to Colombo after the rape.<ref name="uthr.org"/>
* On 16 November 1987, two IPKF soldiers raped a young Tamil girl in her home, after separating her from her parents. She bled after the rape and then jumped into the family well in desperation.<ref name="uthr.org"/>
* On 18 November 1987, between 2-3pm, two IPKF soldiers raped a widow (55) and a 22-year-old woman in a poor [[Catholic]] area of [[Jaffna]]. The younger girl was able to free herself after being raped, and ran down the road screaming. She cried out "they have spoilt me".<ref name="uthr.org"/>
* On 17 December 1987, Sepoy Karnail Singh of 14 Sikh light infantry of the IPKF faced dismissal and one year's imprisonment for raping a Tamil woman from the village of Idaikkurichy. Similar punishment was given to A. Mani, the barber of 93 Field Regiment for raping an unmarried woman near [[Kodikamam]] on 24 December 1987.<ref name="Sunday Observer 1989, p15">Kanwar Sandhu – IPKF men face court martial – charges include murder, rape, loot – Sunday Observer, Bombay, 18-24.12.88 – reproduced in Tamil Times, January 1989, p15</ref>
* On 19 December 1987, at 11:30am, two Tamil women were raped in [[Jaffna]] by the IPKF. The younger woman was aged 25. The two women were taken into two separate rooms and raped. The IPKF soldiers left once the neighbours arrived en masse to the house, alerted by the dogs barking fiercely.<ref name="uthr.org"/>
* On 23 December 1987, an educated 18 year old Tamil virgin from a poor labourer family was gang raped by two IPKF soldiers in succession. The previous day the soldiers had come and stolen chickens from their garden.<ref name="uthr.org"/>
* Nail Banwari Lal and rifleman Gugan Ram of 18 Garhwal Rifles faced dismissal and 6 months' imprisonment each for trying to rape married women at Kaithadi on 25 December 1987.<ref name="Sunday Observer 1989, p15"/>
* In 1987, when Tamil journalist Mr A.Lokeesan was six years old, he heard a Tamil woman screaming in a paddy field as she was being raped by [[IPKF]] soldiers.<ref>Frances Harrison (2012), Still Counting the Dead: Survivors of Sri Lanka's Hidden War, Portobello books, p.122</ref>
* Karunaharen, a 16-year old Tamil boy was stopped along with his sister by IPKF soldiers. His sister was then taken into a house by the soldiers, where he heard her scream. He ran to the window and witnessed her being raped and then killed by the IPKF soldiers. He ran back to his home in terror. His parents later bought him a ticket to Canada, fearing for this safety. On his way to Canada, he was stopped at Seattle, taken off the plane and put in a detention centre with a criminal gang from Seattle. The gang members then beat and gang raped him. A sympathetic prison guard then handed him over to a Tamil lawyer living in Seattle.<ref>Tamil Times, 15 April 2001 – Peace and suffering, p21</ref>


==== 1988 ====
As the battle for Jaffna proggressed, the IPKF advance came under intense and vicious opposition from the Tigers. Fighting in built-up and an as-yet unevacuated Jaffna, the Indian High command insists that the slow advance was, in addition to Tiger resistance, more a result of reluctance on the part of the IPKF to use heavy weaponry to clear LTTE defences.<ref name=Dagmar/> Furthermore all the approach roads had been armed with Claymore mines or explosives by the Tigers in its years of fighting with the Sri Lankan army.<ref name=BSOPPAW/> The Tigers also made extensive use of [[Improvised explosive device|IED]]<ref name=BSOPPAW/> which could be remotely detonated from over a kilometre away.
During this time, the [[Indian Navy]], supported by the [[Indian Coast Guard|Coast Guards]] was key in establishing a 300-mile long blockade around the Northern Sri Lanka from [[October]] [[1987]] to disprupt the Tigers' supply and communications routes.<ref name= Navy>[http://indiannavy.nic.in/pawan.htm '''Operation Pawan'''. Indian Navy.]</ref> In addition, it was around this time the [[MARCOS]] commandos of the Navy first went into action.Detatchments of the IMSF (Indian Marine Special Forces, as the MARCOS was then known as), along with a battalion of the 340th Independent Brigade of the [[Indian Army]], provided beach [[reconnaissance]] around [[Jaffna]] and [[Batticaloa]].<ref name=SpecOps>[http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/India/MCF.htm India.'''Marine Commando Force.'''Special Operations.Com.]</ref>
The 340th Brigade was one of the first IPKF units to be deployed, and served until operations in the [[Trincomalee]] area were complete. The IMSF, at this time, also provided security patrols along the coastal road west of Jaffna until the 41st Brigade took charge later in November.<ref name=SpecOps/>


* On 25 January 1988, the body of a 30 year old Tamil woman was found in a well. She had committed suicide after being raped by IPKF soldiers who had visited her house. The postmortem found clear evidence of rape, with lacerations to her vagina and bruises on the labia.<ref name="uthr.org"/>
On October 15/16, the IPKF advance stopped its advance to stabilize the front. In addition, Palay, the major operations headquarters for the 54th Infantry Division, was secured from Tiger attacks. At this time the [[Indian Air Force]] undertook a massive airlift to reinforce the 91st with three brigades and heavy equipments including [[T-72|T-72 Tanks]] s and [[BMP-1|BMP-1 fighting vehicles]]s. The improvised controllers worked round the clock to fly in troops and equipment. In addition, the [[Indian Airlines]] is said to have contributed, with its [[Boeing 737]]s mounting troop transports.<ref name=BSOPPAW/> In addition, this short interval saw the induction o the [[Mi-8]]s and the first induction of the [[Mi-25]]s of the [[No. 125 Sqn]], along with the [[HAL Cheetah]]s. By end of October the IAF flew 2200 tactical transport and 800 helicopter sorties.<ref name=BSOPPAW/>
* On 29 January 1988, at 12:10pm, a 22 year old Tamil student was raped by 4 IPKF soldiers behind the bushes, after they separated her from her semi-blind father near a temple in [[Jaffna]].<ref name="uthr.org"/>
* Havildar Badan Singh of the IPKF committed [[sodomy]] against 4 male activists of the LTTE during their detention at Jaffna fort in January–February 1988.<ref name="Sunday Observer 1989, p15"/>
* On 1 February 1988, an IPKF soldier of 12 Grenadiers – Khem Raj Meena – faced imprisonment and dismissal from service for attempting to rape another married Tamil woman at Thunnalai south, [[Point Pedro]].<ref name="Sunday Observer 1989, p15"/>
* On 27 May 1988, two IPKF soldiers, Latur Lal and Babu Lal of 12 Grenadiers, faced a year's imprisonment and dismissal from service for raping a married Tamil woman at [[Karaveddy]] during Operation Pawan.<ref name="Sunday Observer 1989, p15"/>
* On 15 November 1988, 6 members of the IPKF raped 7 Tamil women in Jaffna. The victims of rape were Mrs. Sushila Veerasingam, Miss Manjulu Nadarajah, Miss Mala Asaipillai, Miss Rani Subramaniam, Miss Rajani Subramaniam, Miss Thayalini Sundaram and Miss Syamala Rajaratnam.<ref>Action taken against 6 IPFK offenders – Tamil Times, January 1988, p3</ref>
* Amnesty International reported an increasing number of allegations that IPKF personnel had raped Tamil women. Several dozen Tamil women have testified on oath that they were raped by IPKF personnel, for example in Kondavil East in the north and in Sathurkodanan and Morakkadanchenai villages in the east.<ref>Amnesty International on human rights violations before and after the Indo-Sri Lanka accord – Tamil Times, June 1988, p6-7</ref>


==War memorial==
Now reinforced, the IPKF resumed the battle for Jaffna town. The Tanks and armoured fighting vehicles are said to have been an effective protection against the [[anti-personnel mine]]s.<ref name=BSOPPAW/> However, even with this protection, the IPKF advance was torturous in the face of the Tigers' [[sniper]] fire. The rebel snipers would take positions along rooftops of buildings, treetops and even [[coconut]] [[palm]]s. Equipped with powerful [[Telescopic sight|telescopic infra-red sight]]s, the Tiger snipers were able to selectively takeout officers and radiomen, taking a heavy toll and bringing the advances to a grinding halt. In addition, Helicopters flying below 2000 feet also remained vulnerable, with at least five shot at and damaged before the [[Mil Mi-24|Mi-25]]s took up their offensive role. The IPKF adapted quickly, with its officers taking [[pip]]s of their ranksoff, wearing [[slouch hat]]s and carry oversize back packs. However, as advances got bogged down, the battalions, instead manoeuvering around the defenders, were forced to commit more troops under orders from [[New Delhi]].<ref name=BSOPPAW/> In addition, the LTTE increasingly started the use of [[anti-tank mine]]s, taking a further heavy toll on IPKF casualties. A frustrated IPKF cut off power to Jaffna to counter these.<ref name=BSOPPAW/> In addition, the IPKF communications lines were extensively mined by the LTTE, which further compounded the sometimes perillious situations that the Indian troops faced. It was not before the [[IMSF]] commandos broke out of the besieged Jaffna port and cleared the heavily mined Navanturai Coastal Road, that a crucial link up between 1 [[Maratha Light Infantry]] in the Jaffna fort and the advancing troops of 41st Brigade could be established that secured the Nallur area.<ref name=BSOPPAW/> On 21 October 1987, the commandos conducted a successful amphibious raid against a LTTE base at [[Guru Nagar]].<ref name=SpecOps/> It was also toward the end of the Jaffna campaign that the IPKF started the use of [[Mil Mi-24|Mi-25]]s for close air support<ref name=BS125>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1987IPKF/Chapter5.html '''Crocodiles into the Attack.'''No. 125 Helicopter Squadron. Bharat-rakshak.com]</ref> when they flew against LTTE positions in Chavakacheri village on [[October 23]] [[1987]].
The Sri Lankan government had mooted the idea of a war memorial to those soldiers of the IPKF who lost their lives during the peacekeeping mission, in the early Nineties during [[Ranasinge Premadasa|President Premadasa]]'s rule. The memorial was finally constructed in [[Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte]] [http://goo.gl/maps/gOqoz] on the outskirts of Colombo in 2008. The names of the 1200 soldiers who died are inscribed on black marble. The first official memorial service was held on 15 August 2010 when the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ashok Kantha, laid a wreath to honour the dead. The absence of a representative of the Sri Lankan government has been criticised by Indian ex-servicemen who had served in the conflict.<ref>{{aut|Patranobis, Sutirtho}}. [http://www.hindustantimes.com/At-IPKF-memorial-India-finally-pays-homage/Article1-587232.aspx ''At IPKF Memorial, India finally pays homage''.]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Hindustan Times'', 15 Aug 2010, Colombo. Retrieved 17 August 2010.</ref> Later in 2014, India constructed a war memorial at Bhopal to honour the IPKF.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-02-27 |title=Southern Command chief inaugurates IPKF war memorial |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Southern-Command-chief-inaugurates-IPKF-war-memorial/articleshow/31118906.cms |access-date=2023-07-31 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>


A renovated memorial for IPKF soldiers in Palaly, Jaffna, has been declared open in June 2015. The names of 33 who died in the operations in the Northern Province during 1987–1990 have been inscribed on a wall at the memorial site.<ref>"Renovated memorial for IPKF soldiers"http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/renovated-memorial-for-ipkf-soldiers/article7298952.ece</ref>
Ultimately however, after two weeks of bitter fighting, the IPKF had wrested the control of Jaffna and other major cities from the LTTE, but operations were to continue well into [[November]], with major operations coming to an end with the fall of Jaffna Fort on the 28th of November.<ref name=Dagmar/> Through the duration of Operation Pawan, the casualties suffered by the IPKF has been put at varying figures between 600 .<ref name=dixitrediff/> to 1200.{{ref|1}}{{ref|2}} In addition to the LTTE's defensive tactics alluded above, the IPKF's problems problems were confounded by the fact that the Tigers, using classical [[guerrilla]] strategy, blending in with the local population. In addition, the IPKF came face to face with is the [[child soldier]]s of the LTTE, something it had not expected.<ref name=BSOPPAW/>

By the time Jaffna fell, however, the LTTE had merely exfiltrated out of the town, moving south to the jungles of [[Vavuniya]]. Its hard core fighters moved to the safety of the jungles by skirting the coast of Jaffna from Point Pedro to Elephant Pass, sheltered by the impenetrable jungles and criss-crossed waterways of the Nittkaikulam jungles.

This was however only the first of the IPKF's three year campaign to neutralise the LTTE.

The IPKF at this point still consisted mostly of an overstretched 54th Division. Following the Jaffna Operation, the 36th Infantry Division was inducted, along with two additional brigades, to take over the [[Vavuniya]] sector and the [[Trincomalee]]-[[Batticaloa]] axis. This relieved the 54th Division which, led by Brigadier Manjit Singh, could now focus on consolidating the Jaffna sector.<ref name=BSJUNG>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1987/Chapter04.html '''Shifting to the Jungles.''' Bharat-rakshak.com]</ref> The 4th Mountain Division and the 57th Infantry Division were inducted still later in [[February]] [[1988]] to take charge of [[Vanni]] and [[Batticaloa]] from the 36th.

Within Jaffna sector, although the LTTE had shifted out of the town itself, it nevertheless harassed the 54th's efforts to consolidate its positions using IEDs and anti-personnel mines. In turn, however, the IPKF was able to disrupt the LTTE's actvities with regular raids that led to capture of large caches of Rebel weaponry.<ref name=BSJUNG/> Brigadier Manjit Singh was later replaced by Brigadier JS Dhillon, under whom the 54th underwent considerable modifications of its operations routine. Small highly mobile units became the staple of the 54th's operations.<ref name=BSJUNG/>

===The Northern Sri Lankan jungles- Operations Viraat and Trisul===
{{Main|Operation Viraat|Operation Trishul}}
The major force of the Tigers' fighting capacity had retreated to the jungles of [[Vavuniya]] following [[Operation Pawan]].<ref name=IndiaT>[http://www.india-today.com/jain/vol8/chap17.html Jain Commission Interim Report.''' India-Today]</ref> By [[December]] [[1987]],the LTTE was able to build up a network of a large number of camps in the jungles that allowed it to regain a position of power within the local population, instituting [[tax]]es and revenues.<ref name=IndiaT/>
The Vavuniya sector was strategically and geographically key to access the North-South as well as East-West communications routes.

The LTTE was able to withstand the IPKF operations here ideally as well, owing both to a natural cover from the Dense Jungles, an intimate knowledge of the terrain, as well as a low density of populations which also probably held sympathy for the Tigers. The Vavuniya sector remained the most active sector throughout the IPKF's deployment and its casualties in this area were the highest after those suffered during the operations in Jaffna. The LTTE also managed to carry out a large number of successful ambushes against the IPKF patrols in the dense jungles.<ref name=IndiaT/>

By [[summer]] [[1988|the following year]], the Indian High Command had evolved its doctrine from holding key strong points to conducting extensive it [[search and destroy]] missions against LTTE strongholds and bases, denying them ground. In [[April 1988]], the IPKF intiated two near simalteneous operations through the jungles of Northern Sri Lanka. These, codenamed '''Operation Trishul''' and '''Operation Trishul''', were launched in the provinces of [[Mannar]] to [[Mullaitivu]] and [[Elephant Pass]] to [[Vavuniya]]<ref name=BSJUNG/> and utillised approximately 15,000 troops of the IPKF, including armoured corps, [[Paracommando|Paratroop]]s, as well as the infantry troops and army aviation.
These achieved some success in disrupting LTTE operations,with seizure of weaponry and inflicting limited casualties among the LTTE cadres. During the Operation Viraat, the IPKF uncovered well prepared LTTE defenses, including concrete bunkers with electric generators, as well as cahe of arms and reserves. The IPKF also suffered in this unconventional warafe, with the LTTE frequently ambushing IPKF convoys and patrols.
By the end of summer 1988, however, the Tigers were forced to move strongholds, when it started to operate out of [[Nithikaikulam]] and adjacent riverine areas.<ref name=BSJUNG/>

==Withdrawal from Sri Lanka==
[[Image:IPKF_SL_2.JPG|right|thumb|200px|The last contingent of IPKF Jawans leaves Sri Lanka by ship from the [[Trincomalee]] Harbor. The [[Sri Lanka Air Force]] presents arms.]]
[[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] was elected President on 2 January 1989 and he on April 1989 demanded the IPKF withdraw within 3 months from Sri Lanka. In the 1989 elections both Premadasa and the SLFP wanted the IPKF to withdraw and they got 95% of the vote and Sinhala public opinion was against the accord.<ref>
http://www.srilankatruth.com/PeaceTalks/LTTE-SLGTalks.php </ref> Premadasa held peace talks with the LTTE and both of them demanded that the IPKF withdraw.<ref>
http://www.tamilnation.org/intframe/india/89exchange.htm</ref> [[Rajiv Gandhi]]
refused to withdraw the IPKF in a situation which clearly showed the failure of his Sri Lanka policy both diplomatically and militarily. Rajiv believed that the only way he could succeed was to politically force Premadasa and militarily force the [[LTTE]] to accept the accord. In December 1989 Indian elections [[V. P. Singh]]
became the Prime Minister. He viewed [[Rajiv Gandhi]]'s Sri Lanka as a miserable failure as it had cost over 1100 soldiers, over 5000 Sri Lankan lives and cost over 20 billion (2000 crore) rupees of Indian tax payers money in over 32 months and both politically and militarily it was a stalemate.[[V. P. Singh]] withdraw the IPKF and the last ship left on 24 March 1990. IPKF's arrival in India was boycotted by the Tamil Nadu government headed by [[Karunanidhi]].

[[Image:IPKF_SL_1.JPG|right|thumb|400px|The officers of the IPKF compromising all three services bid 'Adieu'. End another chapter in Sri Lankan History.]]
===Intelligence Failures===
Indian intelligence agencies failed to give foolproof info to the forces. One example is the [[Jaffna football ground massacre]]. The LTTE's disinformation machinery leaked info to the Indian army that the LTTE leader Prabhakaran was hiding in a building near the Jaffna university football ground.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The operation plan was chalked out. It was decided to airdrop commandos on the ground while subsequent movement by tank formation ensured that Parabhakaran was caught alive. It was a good plan on the paper. The formation moved out. Battle-hardened commandos were selected for the operation. The commandos started moving down from helicopter. But soon a rain of bullets from the LTTE fighters and sharpshooters perched on the tree tops started to fall on the commandos. The choppers also came under fire. The fate of the tanks moving in pincer formation on the ground was not much different. The LTTE had laid anti-tank mines in the way leading to the operational zone. And the football ground massacre was complete. The irony of the entire story was that the man they were hunting for was nowhere around the area on the day of the operation.<ref>
http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DF08Df01.html </ref>
As a result, relations between India and Sri Lanka became extremely sour and India vowed never to offer any military help to Sri Lanka again. This policy has not been changed since and no defence pact has been signed between India and Sri Lanka. India has never been directly involved in the peace talks between the LTTE and Sri Lanka but has supported [[Norway]]'s efforts.

==Casualties==
The IPKF suffered around 1,200 killed in action and several thousands in wounded. Its role in the Sri Lankan conflict was much maligned by voices both there and at home. On the international scene, it is all but forgotten. After several years, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces realised the role of IPKF and proposed building a memorial to the Indian dead in Sri Lanka. The debacle that was IPKF's intervention in Sri Lanka is raised at times in Indian political discourse whenever the situation in Sri Lanka shows signs of deteriorating, and there is a question of intervening; or, in Sri Lankan politics (particularly by the LTTE), when it is proposed that India, or, more broadly, other foreigners, had ought to have a role in promoting peace on the island nation.

==Alleged Human Rights violations by Indian Forces==
Indian forces were accused of indulging in number of civilian [[massacre]]s, [[Involuntary disappearances]] and [[rapes]] during their time in the [[Northeastern province of Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://nesohr.org/human-rights-reports/StatisticsOnCiviliansAffectedByWar.pdf?PHPSESSID=8204ff9bfa58e205f71a95c3899f8835|title=Statistics on civilians affected by war from 1974 - 2004|accessdate=2007-01-30 |format= |work=NESOHR }}</ref> These include allegations of involvement or comlpicity in the incidents noted below.
===Valvettiturai massacre===
On 2, 3, and [[4 August]] [[1989]] over 50 Tamils were massacred by the Indian Peace Keeping Force in [[Valvettiturai]], Jaffna. In addition to the killings over 100 homes, shops and other property were also burnt and destroyed. The bodies of 52 Tamils were identified, including seven children and six women. Over 100 homes, over 40 shops, 70 vehicles, fishing boats and nets were burnt and completely destroyed. The town of 15,000 people was empty following the massacre and more than 5,000 people took refuge in churches and schools. In the days following the massacre, unsuccessful attempts were made to cover up the civilian killings, and few reporters managed to reveal the details of the massacre<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ltteps.org/mainpages/images/2006/08/Massacre_at_Valvetti_-_Indian_Express.pdf |title=Massacre at Point Pedro|accessdate=2007-01-30 |format= |work=Indian Express }}</ref>

===Jaffna teaching hospital massacre===
Another incident was the massacre at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital in which number of minority [[Sri Lankan Tamil|Tamil]] patients, doctors and nurses were allegedly killed by Indian soldiers.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=13203|title=IPKF Jaffna Hospital massacre remembered|accessdate=2007-01-30 |format= |work=[[Tamilnet]] }}</ref>

===Complicity in the Trincomalee massacre===
{{Main|Trincomalee massacre}}
According Asian Times in August of [[1987]], number of majority [[Sinhalese]] civilians were massacred by the [[LTTE]]. The then Sri Lankan government accused the [[Madras Regiment]] posted in the [[Trincomalee]] district of complicity, although the Indian officials denied responsibility, they withdrew the Madras Regiment from Trincomalee district.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD20Df03.html|title=Chapter 36: Indians rule the roost |accessdate=2007-01-30 |format= |work=Asian Times }}</ref>

==Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi==
The decision to send the IPKF in Sri-Lanka was taken by then prime-minister of India, [[Rajiv Gandhi]]. The LTTE assassinated him at a public rally that he was attending at [[Sriperumbudur]] on [[21 May]], [[1991]]. The assassination was done by a [[suicide]] [[bomber]] named [[Thenmuli Rajaratnam|Dhanu]], who was a member of the LTTE.


==See also==
==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Thileepan|Hunger strike of LTC Thileepan]]
* {{C|Foreign intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War}}
*[[Operation Poomalai]]
* [[Annai Poopathy]]
*[[India-Sri Lanka Accord]]
* [[Black July]]
*[[Jaffna University Helidrop]]
* [[Thileepan|Hunger strike of LTC Thileepan]]
*[[Operation Pawan]]
*[[State terrorism in Sri Lanka]]
* [[India-Sri Lanka Accord]]
* [[Jaffna hospital massacre]]
*[[Black July]]
* [[Jaffna University Helidrop]]
*[[Sri Lankan civil war]]
* [[Operation Pawan]]
* [[Operation Poomalai]]
* [[State terrorism in Sri Lanka]]
* [[1989 Valvettiturai massacre|Valvettiturai massacre (1989)]]
* {{C|Sri Lankan Civil War|Sri Lankan Civil War topics}}
{{div col end}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>

===Notes and Further reading===
===Notes and Further reading===
*{{note|1}}Dixit, J. N. (2003) ''Assignment Colombo''. Vijitha Yapa Publications, Colombo, ISBN 955-8095-34-6
* {{note|1}}Dixit, J. N. (2003) ''Assignment Colombo''. Vijitha Yapa Publications, Colombo, {{ISBN|955-8095-34-6}}
*{{note|2}}[[Adele Balasingham]]. (2003) ''The Will to Freedom - An Inside View of Tamil Resistance''. Fairmax Publishing Ltd, 2nd ed. ISBN 1-903679-03-6
* {{note|2}}[[Adele Balasingham]]. (2003) ''The Will to Freedom – An Inside View of Tamil Resistance''. Fairmax Publishing Ltd, 2nd ed. {{ISBN|1-903679-03-6}}
*{{note|3}}Narayan Swamy, M. R. (2002) ''Tigers of Lanka: from Boys to Guerrillas''. Konark Publishers; 3rd ed. ISBN 81-220-0631-0
* {{note|3}}Narayan Swamy, M. R. (2002) ''Tigers of Lanka: from Boys to Guerrillas''. Konark Publishers; 3rd ed. {{ISBN|81-220-0631-0}}
*{{note|6}}[http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=13203 18 anniversary of Jaffna hospital massacre] [[Tamilnet]].com report
* {{note|6}}[http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=13203 18 anniversary of Jaffna hospital massacre] [[Tamilnet]].com report
*{{note|7}}[http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD20Df03.html Asian Time series on Indian -Pakistan involvement in Sri Lanka] by [[K.T.Rajasingham]]
* {{note|7}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20020427122344/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD20Df03.html Asian Time series on Indian -Pakistan involvement in Sri Lanka] by [[K.T.Rajasingham]]
*{{Note|8}}[http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD13Df02.html SRI LANKA: THE UNTOLD STORY] Chapter 35: Accord turns to discord By [[K.T.Rajasingham]]
* {{Note|8}}[https://archive.today/20021001211331/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD13Df02.html SRI LANKA: THE UNTOLD STORY] Chapter 35: Accord turns to discord By [[K.T.Rajasingham]]


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.indianchild.com/india_peace_keeping_operations.htm India Child article on IPKF operations]
* [http://in.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/23lanka.htm India's VietNam]
* [https://archive.today/20120723133708/http://nesohr.org/human-rights-reports/StatisticsOnCiviliansAffectedByWar.pdf?PHPSESSID=8204ff9bfa58e205f71a95c3899f8835 Civilians Affected by War in Northeast Ceylon]
*[http://in.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/23lanka.htm India's VietNam]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050313035608/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1987/index.html The Indian Army in Sri Lanka 1987–1990]
*[http://nesohr.org/human-rights-reports/StatisticsOnCiviliansAffectedByWar.pdf?PHPSESSID=8204ff9bfa58e205f71a95c3899f8835 Civilians Affected by War in Northeast Ceylon]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051016003859/http://www.indianjawan.com/ Indian Jawan]- A Tribute to the Indian Soldier
*[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1987/index.html The Indian Army in Sri Lanka 1987-1990]
*[http://www.indianjawan.com/ Indian Jawan]- A Tribute To The Indian Soldier
* [http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/24lanka.htm Overview of Mission]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050124105524/http://www.stormingmedia.us/40/4004/A400492.html Case Study in Operations Other Than War]
*[http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/24lanka.htm Overview of Mission]
* [http://tamilnation.co/intframe/india/warcrimes/index.htm Tamil Nation on Rajiv Gandhi's War Crimes]
*[http://www.stormingmedia.us/40/4004/A400492.html Case Study in Operations Other Than War]
*[http://www.tamilnation.org/intframe/india/warcrimes/index.htm Tamil Nation article accussing Rajiv Gandhi of War Crimes]


{{Sri Lankan Civil War}}
[[Category:History of Sri Lanka]]
{{India topics}}
[[Category:Military of India|Indian Peace Keeping Force]]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Indian Peace Keeping Force]]
[[Category:Tamil Eelam]]


[[no:Indian Peace Keeping Force]]
[[Category:Indian Peace Keeping Force| ]]
[[Category:1980s in India]]
[[ta:இந்திய அமைதி காக்கும் படை]]
[[Category:1990 in India]]
[[Category:1987 in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:1988 in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:1989 in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:1990 in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Foreign intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War]]
[[Category:India–Sri Lanka relations]]
[[Category:Military of India]]
[[Category:Military history of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Phases of the Sri Lankan Civil War]]
[[Category:Rajiv Gandhi administration]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Civil War]]
[[Category:Tamil Eelam]]

Latest revision as of 16:24, 3 April 2024

Not to be confused with Indian Peace Commission.
Main article: Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War

Indian Peace Keeping Force
ActiveJuly 1987 – March 1990
CountrySri Lanka Sri Lanka
AllegianceIndia India
Branch
Role
Size100,000 (peak)
Engagements
Decorations
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Lieutenant General Depinder Singh
Major General Harkirat Singh (General Officer Commanding)
Lieutenant General S.C. Sardeshpande
Lieutenant General A.S. Kalkat

Cap.Shivkaran Alok Dubey(M.VrC) Gp.Capt. M.P Premi] VrC,

VM IAF

Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was the Indian military contingent performing a peacekeeping operation in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990. It was formed under the mandate of the 1987 Indo-Sri Lankan Accord that aimed to end the Sri Lankan Civil War between Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups such as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan military.[1]

The main task of the IPKF was to disarm the different militant groups, not just the LTTE. It was to be quickly followed by the formation of an Interim Administrative Council. These were the tasks as per the terms of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord, signed at the behest of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Given the escalation of the conflict in Sri Lanka, and with the pouring of refugees into India, Rajiv Gandhi took the decisive step to push this accord through. The IPKF was inducted into Sri Lanka on the request of Sri Lankan President J. R. Jayewardene under the terms of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.[1]

The force was initially not expected to be involved in any significant combat by the Indian High Command.[2] However, within a few months, the IPKF became embroiled in battle with the LTTE to enforce peace. The war erupted following the death of 17 LTTE prisoners, including two areas commanders in the custody of the Sri Lankan Army, which the LTTE blamed the IPKF for allowing to happen.[3] Soon, these differences led to the LTTE attacking the Sinhalese, at which point the IPKF decided to disarm the LTTE militants, by force if required. In the two years it was in northern Sri Lanka, the IPKF launched a number of combat operations aimed at destroying the LTTE-led insurgency. It soon escalated into repeated skirmishes between the IPKF and LTTE. Numerous civilian massacres and rapes were committed by the IPKF during the conflict.[4][5][6] Numerous soldiers of IPKF were killed by LTTE.[7]

The IPKF began withdrawing from Sri Lanka in 1989, on the orders of the newly elected Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa and following the election of the V. P. Singh government in India.[2] The last IPKF contingents left Sri Lanka in March 1990.

India's battle in Sri Lanka is often called 'India's Vietnam' by international media, by way of comparison to American military involvement in the Vietnam War.[8][9]

Background

See also: Operation Poomalai

Sri Lanka, from the early 1980s, was facing increasingly violent ethnic strife in the Sri Lankan Civil War. The origins of the Sri Lankan Civil War can be traced to the independence of Sri Lanka in 1948, after the end of British rule. At the time, a Sinhalese majority government was instituted. This government, which included the Tamil Congress, passed legislation deemed discriminatory by some against the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka.

In the 1970s, two major Tamil parties, the Tamil Congress and a split, the Federal Party united to form the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), a separatist Tamil nationalist group that agitated for a separate state of Tamil Eelam in north and eastern Sri Lanka[10] that would grant the Tamils greater autonomy within the federal structure.

However, the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka, enacted in August 1983, classified all separatist movements as unconstitutional,[1] Outside the TULF, Tamil factions advocating more militant courses of action soon emerged, and the ethnic divisions eventually led to violent civil war.[10]

Indian involvement and intervention

Initially, under Indira Gandhi[11][12] and later under Rajiv Gandhi, the Indian Government sympathised with the Tamil insurrection in Sri Lanka because of the strong support for the Tamil cause within the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Emboldened by this support, supporters in Tamil Nadu provided a sanctuary for the separatists and helped the LTTE smuggle arms and ammunition into Sri Lanka, making them the strongest force on the island. In fact in 1982, the LTTE supremo Prabhakran was arrested by the police in Tamil Nadu, for a shoot-out with his rival Uma Maheswaran, in the middle of the city. Both of them were arrested and later released by the police. This activity was left unchecked as India's regional and domestic interests wanted to limit foreign intervention on what was deemed as an ethnic issue between the Tamils and the Sinhalese. To this end, the Indira Gandhi government sought to make it clear to Sri Lankan president Junius Richard Jayewardene that armed intervention in support of the Tamil movement was an option India would consider if diplomatic solutions should fail.[13]

The first round of civil violence flared in 1983 when the killing of 13 soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army, sparked anti-Tamil pogroms—the Black July riots—in which approximately 3000 Tamils were killed. The riots only aided in the deterioration of the ethnic relations. Militant factions, including the LTTE, at this time recruited in large numbers and continued building on popular Tamil dissent and stepped up the guerrilla war. By May 1985, the guerrillas were strong enough to launch an attack on Anuradhapura, attacking the Bodhi Tree shrine–a sacred site for Buddhist Sinhalese–followed by a rampage through the town. At least 150 civilians died in the hour-long attack.

Rajiv Gandhi's government attempted to re-establish friendly relations with the various factions in Sri Lanka while maintaining diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the conflict as well as limiting overt aid to the Tamil militants.[13][14]

The Sri Lankan government, deducing a decline in support for the Tamil rebels from India, began rearming itself extensively for its anti-insurgent role with support from Pakistan, Israel, Singapore, and South Africa.[13][15] In 1986, the campaign against the insurgency was stepped up. In 1987, retaliating against an increasingly bloody insurgent movement, the Vadamarachchi Operation (Operation Liberation) was launched against LTTE strongholds in Jaffna Peninsula. The operation involved nearly 10,000 troops, supported by helicopter gunships as well as ground-attack aircraft.[13] In June 1987, the Sri Lankan Army laid siege on the town of Jaffna.[16] This resulted in large-scale civilian casualties and created a condition of humanitarian crisis.[17] India, which had a substantial Tamil population in South India faced the prospect of a Tamil backlash at home, called on the Sri Lankan government to halt the offensive in an attempt to negotiate a political settlement. However, the Indian efforts were unheeded. Added to this, in the growing involvement of Pakistani advisers, it was necessary for Indian interest to mount a show of force.[13] Failing to negotiate an end to the crisis with Sri Lanka, India announced on 2 June 1987 that it wound send a convoy of unarmed ships to northern Sri Lanka to provide humanitarian assistance[18] but this was intercepted by the Sri Lankan Navy and forced to turned back.[19]

Following the failure of the naval mission the decision was made by the Indian government to mount an airdrop of relief supplies in aid of the beleaguered civilians over the besieged city of Jaffna. On 4 June 1987, in a bid to provide relief, the Indian Air Force mounted Operation Poomalai. Five Antonov An-32s under fighter cover flew over Jaffna to airdrop 25 tons of supplies, all the time keeping well within the range of Sri Lankan radar coverage. At the same time the Sri Lankan Ambassador to New Delhi, Bernard Tilakaratna, was summoned to the Foreign Office to be informed by the Minister of State, External Affairs, K. Natwar Singh, of the ongoing operation and also indicated that the operation was expected not to be hindered by the Sri Lankan Air Force. The ultimate aim of the operation was both to demonstrate the seriousness of the domestic Tamil concern for the civilian Tamil population and reaffirming the Indian option of active intervention to the Sri Lankan government.[17]

Indo-Sri Lanka Accord

Main article: Indo-Sri Lanka Accord

Following Operation Poomalai, faced with the possibility of an active Indian intervention and lacking any possible ally, the President, J. R. Jayewardene, offered to hold talks with the Rajiv Gandhi government on future moves.[16] The siege of Jaffna was soon lifted, followed by a round of negotiations that led to the signing of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord on 29 July 1987[20] that brought a temporary truce. Crucially however, the negotiations did not include the LTTE as a party to the talks.

The signing of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord on 29 July 1987[20] brought a temporary truce to the Sri Lankan Civil War. Under the terms of the agreement,[21][22] Colombo agreed to a devolution of power to the provinces, the Sri Lankan troops were withdrawn to their barracks in the north, the Tamil rebels were to disarm.[23]

Mandate

Amongst the provisions undersigned by the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord was the commitment of Indian military assistance should this be requested for by the Sri Lankan Government, as well as the provision of an Indian Peace Keeping Force that would "guarantee and enforce the cessation of hostilities".[13][21] It was on these grounds, and on the request of President J. R. Jayewardene, that Indian troops were inducted to Northern Sri Lanka. J N Dixit, the then Indian ambassador to Colombo, in an interview to rediff.com in 2000 described that ostensibly, Jayawardene's decision to request Indian assistance came in the face of increasing civil riots and violence within the southern Sinhalese majority areas, including the capital Colombo that were initiated by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party that necessitated the withdrawal of the Sri Lankan Army from the Tamil areas of northern Sri Lanka to maintain order.[2]

Order of battle

Originally a reinforced division with small naval and air elements, the IPKF at its peak deployed four divisions and nearly 80,000 men with one mountain (4th) and three Infantry Divisions (36th, 54th, 57th) as well as supporting arms and services. At the peak of its operational deployment, IPKF operations also included a large Indian Paramilitary Force and Indian Special Forces elements. Indeed, Sri Lanka was first theatre of active operation for the Indian Navy Commandos. The main deployment of the IPKF was in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. Upon its withdrawal from Sri Lanka the IPKF was renamed the 21st Corps and was headquartered near Bhopal and became a quick reaction force for the Indian Army.

Indian Army

The first Indian Army troops to be deployed to Sri Lanka were a ten thousand strong force from the 54th Infantry Division commanded by Major General Harkirat Singh, which flew into Palali Airbase from 30 July onwards.[24] This was followed later by the 36th Infantry Division.

By 1987, the IPKF consisted of:[17]

Indian Air Force

Soon after its intervention in Sri Lanka and especially after the confrontation with the LTTE, the IPKF received a substantial commitment from the Indian Air Force, mainly transport and helicopter squadrons under the command of Gp.Capt. M.P Premi, including:[27]

Indian Navy

The Indian Navy regularly rotated naval vessels through Sri Lanka waters, mostly smaller vessels such as patrol boats.

  • Indian Naval Air Arm
  • MARCOS (also the Marine Commando Force or MCF) – Took part in Operation Pawan (Hindi, "wind") in 1987 and in the raid on an LTTE base at Gurunagar. MARCOS operators (including Lt Singh) boarded two Gemini rafts off the coast of Jaffna City and towed two wooden rafts of explosives into a channel leading to the city's Guru Nagar Jetty. Avoiding mines, eight men and two officers shifted to the wooden rafts and paddled to the jetty then fixed demolition charges to the jetty and LTTE speedboats. The commandos were detected but laid down suppressive fire and detonated the explosives before retreating to the Geminis without taking casualties. Two nights later, commandos swam back into the harbour amidst heavy patrolling by the LTTE to destroy the remaining speedboats. They were again detected and sustained minor injuries. These actions helped recapture Trincomalee and Jaffna harbours from the LTTE. For leading these actions, the 30-year-old Lieutenant Arvind Singh became the youngest officer to receive the Maha Vir Chakra.[28]

Indian paramilitary forces

Combat operations

Main article: Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War

Analysis

Casualties

In December 1999, Defence Minister George Fernandes disclosed the IPKF had suffered 1,165 personnel killed in action with 3,009 others wounded.[7] The LTTE casualties are not known.

Intelligence failures

The Indian intelligence agencies failed to consistently provide accurate information to Indian forces. One example is the Jaffna football ground massacre. The LTTE's disinformation machinery leaked fake information to the Indian army that the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was hiding in a building near the Jaffna university football ground.[citation needed] A major operational plan was chalked out by the Indian generals to capture him alive. The plan involved airdropping commandos on the ground, while tank formations would move to surround the area, to prevent anyone from the stadium and its surrounding buildings to escape.

However, when the plan was executed, the Indian troops came under heavy attack from hidden LTTE sharpshooters. the tanks moving on the ground were ensnared by anti-tank mines placed by the LTTE militants. This resulted in heavy losses for the Indian side.[citation needed] According to later accounts, the LTTE leader, Prabhakaran was not in the area at the time of the operation.[29]

The IPKF complained that accurate maps of the operational theaters were not made available to them by the various intelligence agencies.[citation needed]

There was also a case where an agent of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was killed in an ambush set up by the IPKF. He had been acting on orders to carry out back channel diplomacy and peace talks with the LTTE.[citation needed]

Impact

The IPKF mission while having gained tactical successes, did not succeed in its intended goals. The primary impact of the IPKF, has been that it shaped India's counterinsurgency techniques and military doctrine. The political fallout, the IPKF casualties, as well as the deterioration of international relations has shaped India's foreign policy towards the Sri Lankan conflict.

Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi

The decision to send the IPKF in Sri Lanka was taken by then Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, who held office until 1989. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at a rally at Sriperumbudur on 21 May 1991, while he was campaigning for re-election during the 1991 Indian general election, by a LTTE suicide bomber named Dhanu.

India's foreign policy

The IPKF intervention in Sri Lanka is raised at times in Indian political discourse whenever the situation in Sri Lanka shows signs of deterioration or, more broadly, when other foreign nations, ought to have a role in promoting peace on the island nation. India has never been directly involved in the peace talks between the LTTE and Sri Lanka but has supported Norway's efforts. As a result, relations between India and Sri Lanka became extremely sour. No defence pact has been signed between India and Sri Lanka even though India reaffirmed its strong defence cooperation with Sri Lanka.[30]

War Crimes

The IPKF role in the Sri Lankan conflict was criticised in both Sri Lanka and India. It perpetrated a number of human rights violations, including rapes and massacres of civilians. Several neutral organisations pointed out that the Indian Army acted with scant regard for civilian safety and violated human rights. This led to considerable outcry and public resentment within Sri Lanka as well as India, especially in Tamil Nadu, where the IPKF was viewed as an invading and oppressing force.

Indian forces indulged in a number of civilian massacres, involuntary disappearances and rapes during their time in the Northeastern province of Sri Lanka.[31][5] These include complicity in the incidents such as Valvettithurai massacre in which on 2, 3, and 4 August 1989 over 50 Tamils were massacred by the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Valvettithurai, Jaffna. In addition to the killings over 100 homes, shops and other property were also burnt and destroyed.[32]

Another notable incident was the Jaffna teaching hospital massacre on 22 October 1987. Following a confrontation with Tamil militants near the hospital, IPKF forces quickly entered the hospital premises and massacred over 70 civilians. These civilians included patients, two doctors, three nurses and a paediatric consultant who were all in uniform. The hospital never completely recovered after this massacre.[33][34][35]

The IPKF was also accused of complicity in murder of Sinhalese civilians. The then Sri Lankan government accused the Madras Regiment posted in the Trincomalee district of complicity, although the Indian officials denied responsibility, they withdrew the Madras Regiment from Trincomalee district.[36]

Sexual violence

From October 1987, the IPKF commenced war on the LTTE in order to disarm them. During this conflict, the IPKF raped thousands of Tamil women.[37] One IPKF official excused these rapes by stating the following: "I agree that rape is a heinous crime. But my dear, all wars have them. There are psychological reasons for them such as battle fatigue."[4]

1987

  • On 6 November 1987, at about 7:30am the IPKF committed a massacre of Tamil civilians in Jaffna to avenge the loss of their comrades. One witness saw both his two daughters being stripped naked below the waist by Hindi speaking soldiers. The girls were both crying and begging for mercy. The soldiers then separated their legs and shot them through their genitals, keeping the rifle barrel between the thighs. The witness closed his eyes and played dead during the shooting. He also heard the two daughters of another man also being shot through the genitals. 10 Tamil civilians were killed in total during this massacre, including infants.[38]
  • On 12 November 1987, at about 8am in Jaffna, three IPKF soldiers gang raped a Tamil mother in her mid 30s in her own home. Her husband was working abroad at the time. They also stole her gold jewellery. The victim reported suffering from nightmares following the attack and was haunted by the soldiers' faces and voices. She could still remember their beady eyes. She visited a psychiatrist who gave her drugs to quieten her down.[4]
  • The IPKF also raped a 13 year old Tamil girl from a middle-class family in a house that had once been a Tiger camp. The family and child fled to Colombo after the rape.[4]
  • On 16 November 1987, two IPKF soldiers raped a young Tamil girl in her home, after separating her from her parents. She bled after the rape and then jumped into the family well in desperation.[4]
  • On 18 November 1987, between 2-3pm, two IPKF soldiers raped a widow (55) and a 22-year-old woman in a poor Catholic area of Jaffna. The younger girl was able to free herself after being raped, and ran down the road screaming. She cried out "they have spoilt me".[4]
  • On 17 December 1987, Sepoy Karnail Singh of 14 Sikh light infantry of the IPKF faced dismissal and one year's imprisonment for raping a Tamil woman from the village of Idaikkurichy. Similar punishment was given to A. Mani, the barber of 93 Field Regiment for raping an unmarried woman near Kodikamam on 24 December 1987.[39]
  • On 19 December 1987, at 11:30am, two Tamil women were raped in Jaffna by the IPKF. The younger woman was aged 25. The two women were taken into two separate rooms and raped. The IPKF soldiers left once the neighbours arrived en masse to the house, alerted by the dogs barking fiercely.[4]
  • On 23 December 1987, an educated 18 year old Tamil virgin from a poor labourer family was gang raped by two IPKF soldiers in succession. The previous day the soldiers had come and stolen chickens from their garden.[4]
  • Nail Banwari Lal and rifleman Gugan Ram of 18 Garhwal Rifles faced dismissal and 6 months' imprisonment each for trying to rape married women at Kaithadi on 25 December 1987.[39]
  • In 1987, when Tamil journalist Mr A.Lokeesan was six years old, he heard a Tamil woman screaming in a paddy field as she was being raped by IPKF soldiers.[40]
  • Karunaharen, a 16-year old Tamil boy was stopped along with his sister by IPKF soldiers. His sister was then taken into a house by the soldiers, where he heard her scream. He ran to the window and witnessed her being raped and then killed by the IPKF soldiers. He ran back to his home in terror. His parents later bought him a ticket to Canada, fearing for this safety. On his way to Canada, he was stopped at Seattle, taken off the plane and put in a detention centre with a criminal gang from Seattle. The gang members then beat and gang raped him. A sympathetic prison guard then handed him over to a Tamil lawyer living in Seattle.[41]

1988

  • On 25 January 1988, the body of a 30 year old Tamil woman was found in a well. She had committed suicide after being raped by IPKF soldiers who had visited her house. The postmortem found clear evidence of rape, with lacerations to her vagina and bruises on the labia.[4]
  • On 29 January 1988, at 12:10pm, a 22 year old Tamil student was raped by 4 IPKF soldiers behind the bushes, after they separated her from her semi-blind father near a temple in Jaffna.[4]
  • Havildar Badan Singh of the IPKF committed sodomy against 4 male activists of the LTTE during their detention at Jaffna fort in January–February 1988.[39]
  • On 1 February 1988, an IPKF soldier of 12 Grenadiers – Khem Raj Meena – faced imprisonment and dismissal from service for attempting to rape another married Tamil woman at Thunnalai south, Point Pedro.[39]
  • On 27 May 1988, two IPKF soldiers, Latur Lal and Babu Lal of 12 Grenadiers, faced a year's imprisonment and dismissal from service for raping a married Tamil woman at Karaveddy during Operation Pawan.[39]
  • On 15 November 1988, 6 members of the IPKF raped 7 Tamil women in Jaffna. The victims of rape were Mrs. Sushila Veerasingam, Miss Manjulu Nadarajah, Miss Mala Asaipillai, Miss Rani Subramaniam, Miss Rajani Subramaniam, Miss Thayalini Sundaram and Miss Syamala Rajaratnam.[42]
  • Amnesty International reported an increasing number of allegations that IPKF personnel had raped Tamil women. Several dozen Tamil women have testified on oath that they were raped by IPKF personnel, for example in Kondavil East in the north and in Sathurkodanan and Morakkadanchenai villages in the east.[43]

War memorial

The Sri Lankan government had mooted the idea of a war memorial to those soldiers of the IPKF who lost their lives during the peacekeeping mission, in the early Nineties during President Premadasa's rule. The memorial was finally constructed in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte [2] on the outskirts of Colombo in 2008. The names of the 1200 soldiers who died are inscribed on black marble. The first official memorial service was held on 15 August 2010 when the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ashok Kantha, laid a wreath to honour the dead. The absence of a representative of the Sri Lankan government has been criticised by Indian ex-servicemen who had served in the conflict.[44] Later in 2014, India constructed a war memorial at Bhopal to honour the IPKF.[45]

A renovated memorial for IPKF soldiers in Palaly, Jaffna, has been declared open in June 2015. The names of 33 who died in the operations in the Northern Province during 1987–1990 have been inscribed on a wall at the memorial site.[46]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b The Peace Accord and the Tamils in Sri Lanka.Hennayake S.K. Asian Survey, Vol. 29, No. 4. (Apr. 1989), pp. 401–415.
  2. ^ a b c "J N Dixit (ex-Indian Ambassador to Colombo) speaking to Rediff.com". Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  3. ^ University Teachers of Human Rights (Jaffna), Broken Palmyrah, Appendix II, http://www.uthr.org/BP/volume2/AppendixII.htm
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j University Teachers of Human Rights (Jaffna), The Broken Palmyra, chapter 5 – "NO MORE TEARS SISTER" THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN, War of October 1987 http://www.uthr.org/BP/volume2/Chapter5.htm
  5. ^ a b McDowell, Chris (1996). A Tamil Asylum Diaspora: Sri Lankan Migration, Settlement and Politics in Switzerland (Studies in Forced Migration). Berghahn Books. ISBN 1-57181-917-7. p.181
  6. ^ Hoole, Ranjan; Thiranagama, Ranjani (1992). "The Broken Palmyra, the Tamil Crisis in Sri Lanka, An Inside Account" (Document). The Sri Lanka Studies Institute. pp. 265–71. ASIN: B000OGS3MW.
  7. ^ a b "Economic Burden by Sending IPKF in Sri Lanka" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India – Archive. 15 December 1999. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  8. ^ Charu Sudan Kasturi (15 December 2017). "INDIA'S 'VIETNAM MOMENT': THE ILL-ADVISED WAR THAT ENDED IN HUMILIATION". ozy.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  9. ^ Sushant Singh (13 October 2017). "On Indian military decisions of today, shadow of a pyrrhic victory yesterday". Indian Express. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  10. ^ a b John Pike. "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), World Tamil Association (WTA), World Tamil Movement (WTM), Federation of Associations of Canadian Tamils (FACT), Ellalan Force. GlobalSecurity.org". Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  11. ^ India's search for power:Indira Gandhi's Foreign Policy.1966–1982. Mansingh S. New Delhi:Sage 1984. p282
  12. ^ "A commission, before it proceeded to draw up criminal proceedings against others, must recommend Indira Gandhi's posthumous prosecution Mitra A. Rediff on Net". Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  13. ^ a b c d e f India's Regional Security Doctrine. Hagerty D.T. Asian Survey, Vol. 31, No. 4. (Apr. 1991), pp. 351–363
  14. ^ "Research and Analysis Wing. Fas.org". Federation of American Scientists. Archived from the original on 22 April 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  15. ^ The Colombo Chill. Bobb D. India Today. 31 March 1986. p. 95.
  16. ^ a b India Airlifts Aid to Tamil Rebels", The New York Times. 5 June 1987
  17. ^ a b c "Operation Poomalai – India Intervenes" Bharat-rakshak.com Archived 7 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Indians To Send convoy to Sri Lanka", The New York Times. 2 June 1987
  19. ^ "Indian Flotilla is turned back by Sri Lankan Naval Vessels," The New York Times. 4 June 1987
  20. ^ a b "Sri Lanka".
  21. ^ a b "ETHNIC POLITICS AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: THE INDO-SRI LANKAN ACCORD. Marasinghe M.L. Int Compa Law Q.Vol. 37. p551-587" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  22. ^ "Sri Lanka: The Untold Story Chapter 35: Accord turns to discord". Archived from the original on 1 October 2002. Retrieved 26 November 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. ^ "New Delhi & the Tamil Struggle. The Indo Sri Lanka Agreement. Satyendra N. Tamil Nation". Retrieved 26 November 2014.[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ "Sri Lanka- war without end, peace without hope. Colonel(retd) A A Athale". Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  25. ^ "65 Armoured Regiment-Indian Army Postal Cover (APO)". Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  26. ^ a b "FIRST BORN MECH – Indian Army 15th Battalion, the Mechanised Infantry Regiment in Op Pawan". 2 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  27. ^ "The Indian Air Force in Sri Lanka". Archived from the original on 18 September 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2007. The Indian Air Force in Sri Lanka
  28. ^ "Arvind Singh MVC". Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  29. ^ "Asia Times: India/Pakistan". atimes.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2002.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  30. ^ Srinivasan, Meera (5 March 2021). "India reaffirms defence ties at SLAF 70th year event". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  31. ^ "Statistics on civilians affected by war from 1974 – 2004" (PDF). NESOHR. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2008.
  32. ^ Sebastian, Rita (24 August 1989). "Massacre at Point Pedro". The Indian Express. pp. 8–9.
  33. ^ Gunaratna, Rohan (1993). Indian intervention in Sri Lanka: The role of India's intelligence agencies. South Asian Network on Conflict Research. ISBN 955-95199-0-5. p.246
  34. ^ Richardson, John (2005). Paradise Poisoned: Learning About Conflict, Terrorism and Development from Sri Lanka's Civil Wars. International Centre for Ethnic Studies. ISBN 955-580-094-4. p.546
  35. ^ Somasundaram, D. (1997). "Abandoning jaffna hospital: Ethical and moral dilemmas". Medicine, Conflict and Survival. 13 (4): 333–347. doi:10.1080/13623699708409357.
  36. ^ "Chapter 36: Indians rule the roost". Asian Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2002. Retrieved 30 January 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  37. ^ Tamil Centre for Human Rights – Recorded figures of Arrests, Killings, Disappearances, Rapes, Displacements and Injuries to Tamils in the North East, Colombo and other regions (1956-2004) http://tchr.net/50_year_arrest_kill.htm
  38. ^ At the hands of the IPFK – savagery beyond belief – Tamil Times, April 1988, p11
  39. ^ a b c d e Kanwar Sandhu – IPKF men face court martial – charges include murder, rape, loot – Sunday Observer, Bombay, 18-24.12.88 – reproduced in Tamil Times, January 1989, p15
  40. ^ Frances Harrison (2012), Still Counting the Dead: Survivors of Sri Lanka's Hidden War, Portobello books, p.122
  41. ^ Tamil Times, 15 April 2001 – Peace and suffering, p21
  42. ^ Action taken against 6 IPFK offenders – Tamil Times, January 1988, p3
  43. ^ Amnesty International on human rights violations before and after the Indo-Sri Lanka accord – Tamil Times, June 1988, p6-7
  44. ^ Patranobis, Sutirtho. At IPKF Memorial, India finally pays homage.[permanent dead link] Hindustan Times, 15 Aug 2010, Colombo. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  45. ^ "Southern Command chief inaugurates IPKF war memorial". The Times of India. 27 February 2014. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  46. ^ "Renovated memorial for IPKF soldiers"http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/renovated-memorial-for-ipkf-soldiers/article7298952.ece

Notes and Further reading

External links

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