Kandiah Balasegaran

Brigadier Balraj (born Balasegaram Kandiah) was a senior commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He is widely regarded as the finest field commander the LTTE ever had, due to his role in spearheading several successful military operations on the frontlines against both the Sri Lankan Army and Indian Peace Keeping Force, despite being overwhelmed numerically and logistically. He received his primary education in Kokkuthoduvai and his secondary education in Pulmoddai, Trincomalee. After he passed his O levels, his parents wanted to send him to university; however, they were unable to do so due to widespread anti-Tamil violence that plagued the island during the early 1980's.

Eelam War 1 Balraj was recruited by the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) at the age of 19. PLOTE differed from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, the primary Tamil nationalist organisation) in tactics, favouring the widespread formation of sleeper cells over the LTTE's hit-and-run tactics. As a result, Balraj grew frustrated as he had little opportunity to fight in open combat. In 1984, he voluntarily switched allegiances and contacted a school teacher who was an LTTE recruiter. Despite his PLOTE background, Balraj was accepted into the LTTE and given military training in Tamil Nadu under the guidance of Indian intelligence. Balraj returned to Jaffna in 1986 and immediately made his mark in combat. That same year, he played an active role in taking over the Karadipokku junction in Kilinochchi in what was an abortive bid by the LTTE to encircle the Kilinochchi military camp. Balraj was later appointed as deputy military commander of Mullaitivu district and led an ambush at Munthirikaikkulam, killing 14 Sri Lankan soldiers.

After the withdrawal of the Indian army in 1990, Prabhakaran moved back to Jaffna with the rest of the LTTE leadership who quickly took control of the peninsula.

Eelam War 2 Balraj's role in defeating several Indian army offensives did not go unnoticed by Prabhakaran who appointed him as the military commander for the Vanni in 1990. This was the opportunity Balraj had been waiting for to demonstrate his military acumen and skills. The A-9 highway or Jaffna-Kandy road was then under the “nominal” control of the Sri Lankan army from Vavuniya to Elephant Pass. The army had military camps at strategic points. The LTTE led by Balraj launched two attacks on the Kokavil and Mankulam camps and overran them. Later another attack was conducted against the Kilinochchi camp. Though it was not overrun, the soldiers later evacuated and strengthened the Paranthan camp. These victories raised the LTTE’s reputation as a strong military force, and Balraj became known as a reputed military commander who inspired and galvanised LTTE cadres by courageously leading them on the frontlines. Apart from leading military assaults and offensives, Balraj also excelled in strategic defense. He was mainly responsible for defeating, preventing, restricting or nullifying several military offensives by the Sri Lankan armed forces. Some of these were “Operation Wanniwickrema” in Vavuniya, “Operation Lightning” in Manal Aru, “Operation Leap Forward” in Jaffna, and “Operation Yarl Devi” in Kilali.

In 1993, Balraj was seriously injured in the fighting at Puloppalai where he sustained serious injuries on his left leg when he fired an RPG at a moving T-55 tank. The injury gave him a permanent limp and forced him to use a cane when walking. Despite this debilitating setback, Balraj continued leading Tiger cadres on the frontlines. In November 1999, Balraj coordinated a series offensives against several military camps, in Oddusuddan, Karippattaimurippu, Mankulam, Kanakarayankulam, Puliyankulam, etc. Most military gains of “Operation Jayasikurui” accumulated over a period of 18 months were reversed in 9 days under Balraj's command. How the LTTE breached these impregnable defenses amounted to a modern military miracle, and it is widely regarded as Balraj’s crowning achievement. and was wounded three times in confrontations with the Indian Army. Balraj was frequently wounded in battle against the Sri Lankan Army, and had heart problems; he was hospitalised for two weeks for heart surgery in Singapore during the 2003 ceasefire. His emotional health was severely affected by the death of his wife. Despite his deteriorating health condition, he was often requested by Prabhakaran for assistance on the battlefield, where Balraj remained for many hours, further negatively impacting his health. After being hospitalized in Puthukkudiyiruppu, he returned to the battlefield to supervise defensive operations.

Death Balraj died on 20 May 2008 at 2:00 p.m. of a heart attack. He was promoted posthumously to Brigadier because he had been responsible for many LTTE victories on the battlefield against the Sri Lankan Army. A three-day period of mourning, from 21 to 23 May, was declared by the LTTE. Balraj was buried with full military honours, and laid to rest in Mullaitivu.