Senior LTTE leader Balakumar badly injured



(January 29, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A senior leader of the Tamil Tigers has been seriously injured in an attack by advancing government troops.

'A senior leader and special member of the LTTE K.V. Balakumar was seriously injured during an attack by the Sri Lankan army at Udaiyarkattu area in Mullaithivu Monday and is admitted to the intensive care unit,' source from the LTTE said.

The military is yet to comment on the report. According to Tamil politicians, Balakumar was formerly the leader of the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students (EROS) and joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in early 90s with a few hundred cadres.

Tamil Tiger leader, Prabhakaran stuck to his belief when he took in Balakumar, the EROS leader, and his deputy, Pararajasingham (Para), who joined the LTTE after disbanding their organization. He did not take them into the military organization. They have civil administrative jobs. Balakumar is the head of the planning division and Para heads the judiciary.
- Sri Lanka Guardian