Tamil Nadu Liberation Army
Encyclopedia
Tamil Nadu Liberation Army (TNLA) is a small militant separatist movement in India
. It seeks an independent nation for the Tamil people
, and first appeared in the 1980s, when the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) was sent to Sri Lanka
. It had its roots in the Naxalite
movement, and was headed by Thamizharasan, an engineering student from Ponparappi
village. TNLA was involved in minor bomb blasts, murders and looting banks. On September 1, 1987, the people of Ponparappi village lynched
Thamizharasan and four of his associates, when they attempted to rob a bank. After his death, the group is believed to have splintered into factions. TNLA was banned by the Tamil Nadu State Government, and also by the Union Government on the recommendation of the State Government. It has been declared a terrorist
organization by the government of India.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It seeks an independent nation for the Tamil people
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
, and first appeared in the 1980s, when the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) was sent to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It had its roots in the Naxalite
Naxalite
The word Naxal, Naxalite or Naksalvadi is a generic term used to refer to various militant Communist groups operating in different parts of India under different organizational envelopes...
movement, and was headed by Thamizharasan, an engineering student from Ponparappi
Ponparappi
Ponparappi is a village in the Sendurai taluk of Ariyalur district, Tamil Nadu, India.- Demographics :As per the 2001 census, Ponparappi had a total population of 4614 with 2300 males and 2314 females....
village. TNLA was involved in minor bomb blasts, murders and looting banks. On September 1, 1987, the people of Ponparappi village lynched
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
Thamizharasan and four of his associates, when they attempted to rob a bank. After his death, the group is believed to have splintered into factions. TNLA was banned by the Tamil Nadu State Government, and also by the Union Government on the recommendation of the State Government. It has been declared a terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
organization by the government of India.