Missing Links in Prabakaran’s capture and death

Missing links in Prabakaran’s capture and death
Prof Dr P Chandra Sekharan
Professor Chandra Sekharan is the principal scientific investigator in Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, He informed the world within 24 hours that it was the woman human bomb that killed Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumpudur on May 21, 1991 and identified the LTTE assassin and released her photograph.
The Hindu News (20.5.2009) reads that ‘the bullet-ridden body of Prabakaran on the bank of the Nanthikadal lagoon was identified by ‘Col. Karuna, Minister in the Mahinda Rajapaksa government and Daya Master, LTTE Media Coordinator. The method of ‘visual identification’ of a dead body by kith and kin or persons who are closely acquainted with the dead is also an accepted method in forensic parlance, subject to the truthfulness of identifiers, since it is based on the ‘brain processes’ of recognition.
DNA test
But the earlier statement made by Sri Lankan authorities through TV channels that “DNA tests confirm Prabakaran’s death” is absurd. Firstly DNA test can only be used as a personal identification technique to identify the body in this case and it cannot reveal anything about the manner or cause of death. Secondly the DNA test (profile) carried out from the biological samples taken from the recovered body alone will not speak about the identity of the body unless it is compared with the authentic DNA profile carried out from the blood samples taken from Prabakaran when he was alive.
There is no chance for Sri Lankan army to be in possession of such a record. Even if they do possess, the whole process cannot be completed in a couple of hours that too in the battle field. The biological samples have to be taken to a laboratory where only the DNA has to be extracted. The extracted DNA has to be analyzed according to standardized protocol in highly sophisticated equipments and the result has to be compared with the ante mortem record.
In the absence of the ante mortem record, the other alternative is to get blood samples from Prabakaran’s parents or siblings and get their DNA profiles in order to establish Prabakaran’s identity. Obviously the army spokesmen, who had some idea about the capability of DNA technology without knowing the scientific principles, inadvertently used the name of DNA to bolster the case of Prabakaran’s capture and brought shame to the Island nation. The Sri Lankan government should take immediate action against those who made such irresponsible statements and made themselves a laughing stock.
This earlier blunder made by the Sri Lankan army spokesmen alerted the world community to view with suspicion even the later identification by Karuna and Daya. I also find several incongruities in the video-clippings shown in this regard. The Sri Lankan President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa who had ensured in his parliament address full rights to the Tamils in the country, should also make sure that he gives correct information about the capture and death of LTTE Chief Prabakaran. The Sri Lankan government should not go the way the Pakistan government had gone to dispose the body of Benazir Bhutto with inexplicable quickness.
Missing Links
There are many missing links in the episode of Prabakaran’s capture and death. Sri Lankan government should be above board in establishing the death of LTTE Chief Velu Pillai Prabhakaranin in the battlefield. “The occurrence of deaths in ethnic wars and battles raises public interest and emotions that require careful handling and investigation”. Identification of the dead is a vital exercise in any democratic country which ought to know which one of its citizen (more so in the case of a rebel leader) is dead for a variety of reasons including for official and legal purposes (perhaps historical in this case).
Establishing the identity of Prabhakaran
The foremost task is to identify the said Prabakaran’s body through scientific methods. As a first step biological samples have to be collected from his body by competent experts. I do not think Sri Lankan army has in its possession DNA profile of Prabhakaran made at an earlier point of time. Sri Lankan authorities should therefore make an effort to get DNA samples from Prabhakaran’s parents and siblings in India because identity can be established only from known authentic samples.
Finding out the manner of death
When once the identity is established, the next task would be to find out the manner of death (cause of death is different from manner of death). There are four possibilities: 1) Prabakaran could have committed suicide by biting the cyanide capsule; 2) he could have shot himself with his pistol he always carries; 3) the army man could have shot him when he was alive or 4) the army man could have shot Prabakaran’s body after his death. The manner of death can be known only after autopsy and detailed forensic medical, ballistic and toxicological examinations are carried out if necessary with the assistance of international experts.
The suspected body should be preserved until all forensic investigations are carried out. The Sri Lankan government has an onerous duty of conducting investigation on the above lines and informing the world the results. Even in the interest of its own safety the Island nation has to undertake this exercise.