Colombo: A top Tamil Tiger intelligence operative linked to the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi has been shot dead by a renegade Tiger leader just before going underground, rebels and military sources said today (Apr 15, 2004).

The Tiger operative identified as Neelan was shot dead by V Muralitharan or Karuna just before he disbanded his group and escaped in the face of a major offensive to dislodge him from the Eastern district of Batticaloa on Monday (Apr 12, 2004).

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) posthumously conferred the rank of Lt Colonel on Neelan, the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said.

"The deputy head of the Batticaloa intelligence unit, Lt Colonel Neelan (Sinnathamby), was shot dead by the "traitorous" Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna on April 12 before he fled his jungle hideouts in the Batticaloa district," the Tamilnet said.

"The Lt Col rank is usually earned only by senior members of the LTTE," LTTE sources said, adding, "Lt Col Neelan was responsible for several battle field successes."

'The Sunday Leader' newspaper had reported the detention of Neelan by Karuna and had speculated that the renegade may use the prized catch as a bargaining chip, possibly with India because of his links to the Gandhi case.

Tigers also said they lost five others of their cadres in the battle to flush out Karuna who led an unprecedented breakaway on March 3. Karuna's group had said they lost nine cadres killed and 10 wounded.