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From Express Archive: When 33 were killed in a bomb blast at Chennai airport on August 2, 1984

On August 2nd, 1984, a bomb blast by the Tamil Eelam Army (TEA) at Meenambakkam International Airport in Chennai left 33 people dead and 27 injured. The events that led to the tragic incident were a combination of bad luck and official apathy. Click to view how Express covered the 'accidental blast. 
Express Clipping dated 3 August 1984: On August 2nd, 1984, a bomb blast by the Tamil Eelam Army (TEA) at Meenambakkam International Airport in Chennai left 33 people dead and 27 injured. The events that led to the tragedy were a combination of bad luck an
Express Clipping dated 3 August 1984: On August 2nd, 1984, a bomb blast by the Tamil Eelam Army (TEA) at Meenambakkam International Airport in Chennai left 33 people dead and 27 injured. The events that led to the tragedy were a combination of bad luck an
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Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: The TEA was formed by Sri Lankan Tamil militant Panagoda Maheswaran in 1983 with the intention of securing a Tamil Eelam and it had about 1,300 volunteers. After a brief period of intense struggle, Kathiresan and about 130 others had escaped to Tamil Nadu vowing to continue agitating for their demands. The Meenambakkam blast, their first case of subversion, however had occurred by accident.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: The TEA was formed by Sri Lankan Tamil militant Panagoda Maheswaran in 1983 with the intention of securing a Tamil Eelam and it had about 1,300 volunteers. After a brief period of intense struggle, Kathiresan and about 130 others had escaped to Tamil Nadu vowing to continue agitating for their demands. The Meenambakkam blast, their first case of subversion, however had occurred by accident.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: Tamil Eelam Party members placed bombs in two brown suitcases on a plane bound for Sri Lanka, aiming for a blast at Colombo airport. The timer was set at around 11 PM, which was when Air Lanka flight UL-122 was scheduled to land at Colombo airport. The aircraft was scheduled to depart from Chennai's Meenambakkam airport at 8.10 PM on that fateful night.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: Tamil Eelam Party members placed bombs in two brown suitcases on a plane bound for Sri Lanka, aiming for a blast at Colombo airport. The timer was set at around 11 PM, which was when Air Lanka flight UL-122 was scheduled to land at Colombo airport. The aircraft was scheduled to depart from Chennai's Meenambakkam airport at 8.10 PM on that fateful night.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: The bombs were meant to explode after the suitcases were taken off the plane upon landing, and later, dispatched to the cargo complex. The intensity of the blast, if it had gone according to plan, would have destroyed at least six planes in the airport, police said.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: The bombs were meant to explode after the suitcases were taken off the plane upon landing, and later, dispatched to the cargo complex. The intensity of the blast, if it had gone according to plan, would have destroyed at least six planes in the airport, police said.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: The main accused Kathiresan had purchased a ticket for the Air Lanka flight but did not board the plane. He had, with the assistance of a Sri Lankan Thambiraja, Saravana Bhavan (a film actor and a flying club member), Chandra Kumar (a constable with the Airport Security team), Loganathan (an unauthorised porter at Meenambakkam airport) and Vijayakumar (Air Lanka office peon at Meenambakkam) tried to move the two brown suitcases through the conveyor for customs clearance.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: The main accused Kathiresan had purchased a ticket for the Air Lanka flight but did not board the plane. He had, with the assistance of a Sri Lankan Thambiraja, Saravana Bhavan (a film actor and a flying club member), Chandra Kumar (a constable with the Airport Security team), Loganathan (an unauthorised porter at Meenambakkam airport) and Vijayakumar (Air Lanka office peon at Meenambakkam) tried to move the two brown suitcases through the conveyor for customs clearance.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: The luggage, which was meant to be placed along with the rest of the cargo on the Air Lanka flight, had by mistake reached the luggage section of a London-bound flight.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: The luggage, which was meant to be placed along with the rest of the cargo on the Air Lanka flight, had by mistake reached the luggage section of a London-bound flight.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: Lady luck was not with the Tamil Eelam Party that night. Instead of clearing the luggage, Customs officials kept aside the luggage. An India Today story reported that a customs officer got suspicious because of the weight (doubting them to be gold biscuits) and detained it for checking in the passengers' presence. Kathiresan did not turn up for immigration or customs checks. Later when they found that the owner of the bags (Kathiresan) had not boarded, they were taken to the customs detention area. Officials planned to open them later as customs laws require two witnesses' presence for checking contraband in a bag.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: Lady luck was not with the Tamil Eelam Party that night. Instead of clearing the luggage, Customs officials kept aside the luggage. An India Today story reported that a customs officer got suspicious because of the weight (doubting them to be gold biscuits) and detained it for checking in the passengers' presence. Kathiresan did not turn up for immigration or customs checks. Later when they found that the owner of the bags (Kathiresan) had not boarded, they were taken to the customs detention area. Officials planned to open them later as customs laws require two witnesses' presence for checking contraband in a bag.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: Kathiresan had got tags for both London and Paris-bound flights affixed on the suitcases. The London flight was expected to leave Colombo at 11.55 pm, while the Paris flight was scheduled for departure from Colombo at 11.30 pm. The bombs had been set to explode at Colombo airport at around 10.52. The tags would have ensured that the two suitcases were placed in Air Lanka's London and Paris flights from Colombo.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: Kathiresan had got tags for both London and Paris-bound flights affixed on the suitcases. The London flight was expected to leave Colombo at 11.55 pm, while the Paris flight was scheduled for departure from Colombo at 11.30 pm. The bombs had been set to explode at Colombo airport at around 10.52. The tags would have ensured that the two suitcases were placed in Air Lanka's London and Paris flights from Colombo.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: Around 9:50 pm, the airport manager received an anonymous telephone call claiming that 'two dark brown suitcases lying with the customs contain bombs...rock-blasting material. Don't ask any more questions.' The call may have come after Kathiresan found out that the bags were not on the flight.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: Around 9:50 pm, the airport manager received an anonymous telephone call claiming that 'two dark brown suitcases lying with the customs contain bombs...rock-blasting material. Don't ask any more questions.' The call may have come after Kathiresan found out that the bags were not on the flight.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: At 9:55 pm, the airport manager told customs officers R Damodaran and Augustine Thomas about the call who reportedly did not take it seriously.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: At 9:55 pm, the airport manager told customs officers R Damodaran and Augustine Thomas about the call who reportedly did not take it seriously.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: The manager also informed JC Tamhane, deputy director, operations, who requested for a water tender and an ambulance to be deployed at the airport. Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives was also informed.
Express Clipping dated 4 August 1984: The manager also informed JC Tamhane, deputy director, operations, who requested for a water tender and an ambulance to be deployed at the airport. Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives was also informed.
Express Clipping dated 5 August 1984: At 10.40 pm, the manager got another call saying 'the bombs in the suitcase are going to explode by 11 p.m.' His frantic calls to airport security police and the announcer on the public address system did not go through.
Express Clipping dated 5 August 1984: At 10.40 pm, the manager got another call saying 'the bombs in the suitcase are going to explode by 11 p.m.' His frantic calls to airport security police and the announcer on the public address system did not go through.
Express Clipping dated 5 August 1984: At the scheduled blast time of 10:52 pm, the bombs in the suitcases exploded, instantly killing Damodaran, Thomas, Alexander and 29 other people in the lounge area.
Express Clipping dated 5 August 1984: At the scheduled blast time of 10:52 pm, the bombs in the suitcases exploded, instantly killing Damodaran, Thomas, Alexander and 29 other people in the lounge area.
Express Clipping dated 6 August 1984: The India Today report said that explosive experts arrived only at 12:10 am.
Express Clipping dated 6 August 1984: The India Today report said that explosive experts arrived only at 12:10 am.
Express Clipping dated 7 August 1984: At least 27 of the victims were transit passengers bound for Sri Lanka. Six airport security officials were killed too.
Express Clipping dated 7 August 1984: At least 27 of the victims were transit passengers bound for Sri Lanka. Six airport security officials were killed too.
Express Clipping dated 7 August 1984: The blast was reportedly the first and last act of terror by the Eelam group, which disbanded soon after.
Express Clipping dated 7 August 1984: The blast was reportedly the first and last act of terror by the Eelam group, which disbanded soon after.
Express Clipping dated 7 August 1984: As per an Express report dated 08 February 1998, the police arrested 10 persons in the case while a Sri Lankan national Sree went missing. Three accused - Kathiresan, Vigneswara Raja and Thambiraja reportedly jumped bail. District Sessions Judge, Chengalpattu convicted five accused - Saravana Bhavan, Loganathan, Vijay Kumar, Balasubramaniam and Chandra Kumar - and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
Express Clipping dated 7 August 1984: As per an Express report dated 08 February 1998, the police arrested 10 persons in the case while a Sri Lankan national Sree went missing. Three accused - Kathiresan, Vigneswara Raja and Thambiraja reportedly jumped bail. District Sessions Judge, Chengalpattu convicted five accused - Saravana Bhavan, Loganathan, Vijay Kumar, Balasubramaniam and Chandra Kumar - and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
Express Clipping dated 9 August 1984: It was later found that the first warning call came at 8:15 pm, shortly after the Air Lanka flight on which the baggage had been booked took off. After that, 4 calls were made, the last was at 10:40 pm.
Express Clipping dated 9 August 1984: It was later found that the first warning call came at 8:15 pm, shortly after the Air Lanka flight on which the baggage had been booked took off. After that, 4 calls were made, the last was at 10:40 pm.
Express Clipping dated 10 August 1984: The report in picture suggests that lower level staff at the airport worked in collusion with Kathiresan. Investigations revealed that a single destination tag on luggage was replaced, somewhere between the check-in area and the customs hall. The two tags that were affixed: Madras-Colombo-London and Madras-Colombo-Paris, could not have been done without the help of an insider, sources told Express.
Express Clipping dated 10 August 1984: The report in picture suggests that lower level staff at the airport worked in collusion with Kathiresan. Investigations revealed that a single destination tag on luggage was replaced, somewhere between the check-in area and the customs hall. The two tags that were affixed: Madras-Colombo-London and Madras-Colombo-Paris, could not have been done without the help of an insider, sources told Express.
Express Clipping dated 10 August 1984: Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives Shiv Prasad was suspended for not responding appropriately to the telephone call at 10 pm from the airport manager. Prasad refused to come to the airport citing that he lived 14 kilometres away. When an authorised jeep reached his residence later, he diverted it to the houses of two subordinate officers. They arrived over two hours after the call from the manager.
Express Clipping dated 10 August 1984: Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives Shiv Prasad was suspended for not responding appropriately to the telephone call at 10 pm from the airport manager. Prasad refused to come to the airport citing that he lived 14 kilometres away. When an authorised jeep reached his residence later, he diverted it to the houses of two subordinate officers. They arrived over two hours after the call from the manager.
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