Rajiv Gandhi assassins shouldn't be released say families of others slain, petition the Tamil Nadu governor

7 Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict shouldn't be released at any cost, family members of the people who were also killed during Rajiv Gandhi assassination presented their representation to the Tamil Nadu governor and objected the release of 7 convicts.

The Rajiv Gandhi assassination bomb blast which happened at Sriperumbudur in outskirts of Chennai on 21th May 1991 didn't only kill the former Prime minister, but also other 14 people including police Personals, security officers and few Party men who were present there. Many people lost their young ones during this blast which happened at Sriperumbudur.

7 convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case including Perarivalan, Santhan, Murugan and Nalini had submitted mercy petition following their death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Then they've submitted another mercy petition to release them from prison since they have spent more than 25 years in prison.

But the centre informed the supreme court that they don't concur with the idea of releasing the 7 convicts since it was a planned assassination of a former PM & the release could create international ramifications. SC recently gave an order that the governor of the state can release them by exercising article 61 and release them since it is a state subject now.

READ | Tamil Nadu Cabinet Recommends Release Of All 7 Convicts In Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case

The Tamil Nadu cabinet had also taken a decision to release the 7 Rajiv Gandhi assassination convicts and recommendations were sent to the Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit.

We have learnt from the sources that the governor is consulting with his legal teams and trying to understand the implications of the matter and other ramifications. Mother of one of the convict, Perarivalan's mother Arupathammal met governor Purohit two days back and requested for the release of her son and others.

The family members of those who lost their life during the assassination met the Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal purohit on September 26 to request him not to consider the mercy plea of the convicts since the incident have given them irreplaceable loses and irreversible pain and sufferings. They also informed the governor that there is also a case pending regarding the same which was filed by the family members in the year 2014 at Supreme court & the verdict is still pending.

Anushiya daisy Ernest, a retired ASP and survivor who faced several severe injuries during the bomb blast told republic, "They are hardcore criminals, they should be hanged. I was on the spot, more than 100 pellets penetrated my body and I lost two fingers and I am undergoing the pain every day. They should not be released, its assassination of Prime Minister and innocent people have died, govern told he will wait till the SC Verdict and told he will take a good decision"

Mani, husband of police constable Chandra who lost his wife during the bomb blast told that his daughter who was 2 years then is suffering with severe mental illness because she doesn't have the mother to take care, but the daughter of the convict Nalini is the doctor in the foreign country. They should not be spared. Their death sentence is been deducted to life sentence already, It cannot be reduced more.

The members of the forum told us that the governor informed them that he'll take a good decision on this matter and will wait for the verdict of the supreme court. Many family members also said that they don't even need financial compensation for their loss but the government shouldn't see these convicts free. 

READ | Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case: S. Nalini Sriharan Writes To Home secretary, Seeks Release Under Article 161 Of The Constitution