On 3 November 1988, the Sri Lankan militant organization People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam reached Maldives. These militants reached Maldives in disguise of tourists. Abdullah Lathufi, a Maldives citizen living in Sri Lanka, had planned the plank and the militants were admitted to the Maldives under this planning.
The militants took possession of the government buildings in the capital Male as soon as they entered the Maldives. Male, airport, television center and port were captured by militants. This troop of militants wanted to reach the then President Mamnoon Abdul Gayoom. As soon as Gayoom realized the danger, he sent emergency messages to the heads of many countries. Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, got into action as soon as he got the message. India was the first country to help Maldives.
At that time, in early November 1988, armed fighters reached the capital Male via waterboats. Important government buildings, airports, ports, communication centers were captured by the rebels there. Many leaders came under his control. Then 80 PLOTE fighters entered the Maldives and bombed through the Indian Ocean.
According to reports, soldiers of the 50th Parachute Brigade were sent to the capital Male. In the battle between the armed fighters and the Indian soldiers, the fighters were defeated and again Gayoom’s government came to power.
Continuing their operations, the Indian Army first occupied the Male Airport and then provided security to President Gayoom from the National Security Service headquarters. After this, the supply line of goods found to the terrorists was cut. Within a few hours, the Indian Army had saved President Gayoom’s capital from LTTE terrorists. The biggest thing in this attack was that the Indian Army was not harmed during the encounter with the terrorists. After this action of the Indian Army, many countries also praised India.
