gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu (Surekha Reddy Gaddam) (05/24/91)
From: Sundar.Vallinayagam@speech1.cs.cmu.edu Approved: gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu May 23rd 2100 Hrs. GMT (1700 hrs. EDT) BBC News Hour Bulletin: Search continues for new leader--official claim big breakthrough in investigations. The officials investigating the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi have claimed a significant breakthrough in finding who was reponsible for it. It is almost certain that a middle-aged woman had the explosives strapped to her body and set it off as she was bowing to touch his feet. Pieces of battery and wire were recovered from the torso. The face was found almost intact. Police have photographed the face and are circulating it widely. An expert on Sri Lankan affairs said that the force of the blast was too powerful that it destroyed most of the evidence as well. Rajiv's killing bears a lot of similarity to that of Mr. Ranjan Wijaratne, a senior minister in the Sri Lankan cabinet, who too was killed quite recently. Based on the modus operandi of Mr. Wijaratnes's murder, it was inferred that the killers were most likely the Tamil Tigers. They, however, denied this allegation. Rajiv's killing seems to have been carried out in a similar manner. The Tamli Tigers have denied any involvement in this affair too. Meanwhile, the Indian govt. is deporting a number of Tamil refugees back to Sri Lanka, even though most of them are not linked to any to of the rebel groups. This is causing some concern. After Sonia Gandhi's refusal to accept the post of Cong(I) president, the search for a new leader continues. Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao seems to be the front runner, not so much because he has any real support as his being the least controversial choice. He is widely respected, but lacks any support at the grass-root level. The CWC is scheduled to meet after the cremation on Fri. to choose another leader. The cong. party is riven with factionalism. Rajiv Gandhi prevented anyone who was likely to become his successor, fearing that that person might pose a threat to him; he in fact thrived on the internal fighting among various groups, so that no one who would eclipse him ermerged. Meanwhile, Mr. Chadra Sekhar is trying to rally support around him, projecting him as the only alternative between the leaderless Cong(I) and the fundamentalist BJP. This is causing concerns to the Congress party. Ramli. (ramli@orca.ele.uri.edu)