Rajiv assassination case: CBI sends letters rogatory

NEW DELHI, APRIL 1. To unravel the conspiracy behind the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, the CBI has approached nearly 23 countries seeking details about the LTTE members suspected to be involved in the assassination.

Highly-placed sources in the agency said here today that letters rogatory had been sent to various countries, especially to Sweden where the LTTE chief, Mr. V. Prabhakaran's close confidante `KP' is believed to be hiding.

A request was sent to the Swedish authorities to probe the conduct of the militant who is suspected to have ``some links with the assassination case.'' Similar letters rogatory had been sent to other countries, sources said.

Asked whether the CBI had sought help of the authorities in Sweden or other countries for arresting the suspects, sources said ``we have sent our findings during the investigations to them and have asked them to further probe the matter.'' The agency has asked the countries to gather as much information as possible about the suspected persons belonging to the LTTE and even interrogate them wherever necessary.

Sources said the CBI's request for ``international legal assistance'' to the Swedish Justice Ministry in February was still pending with the Swedish Ministry but hoped the matter would be taken up soon. It may be remembered that Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by an LTTE suicide bomber at an election rally in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. In January 1998, 26 people were convicted in the case.

A Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA), headed by the CBI, was set up to further investigate the leads provided by the Jain Commission which probed the conspiracy aspect behind the assassination.

- PTI

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