[9][11] Parthipan joined the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) prior to the 1983 Black July anti-Tamil riots.

[12][13] As hostilities increased in northern Sri Lanka, the LTTE handed over a letter to the Indian High Commissioner on 13 September 1987 making five demands: the release of all political prisoners held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and emergency regulations; cessation of Sinhalese colonisation of Tamil areas under the guise of "rehabilitation"; cessation of all "rehabilitation" activities until the establishment of the Interim Administrative Council; cessation of construction of police stations in the Northern and Eastern provinces; and the disarmament of Home Guards and withdrawal of the army/police from schools and colleges.

[14] Determined to make the Indians meet the demands, Thileepan began a hunger strike on 15 September 1987 in front of Nallur Kandaswamy Temple.

[12] LTTE leader Prabhakaran accused India of betraying the Tamils after vowing to protect them.

[24] Thileepan's death resulted in large anti-government and anti-Indian protests in northern Sri Lanka.

[27] After war resumed, Thileepan's photograph and decorative lamps at the statue were damaged by the army on 26 October 2006.