Early Release for Rajiv Gandhi’s Assassin?
On May 21st 1991 Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India was assassinated in Sriperumbudur (Tamil Nadu). He and fourteen others were killed by a female suicide bomber by the name of Thenmozhi Rajaratnam belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE was fighting an insurgency against the Sri Lankan government forces for an independent country of the Tamil speaking people of Sri Lanka.
The Supreme Court passed a verdict indicating that the 26 accused did not commit any offence under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA). One of the judges, Judge Wadhwa stated that there was no evidence to indicate that the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi was to subdue the Indian government.
The LTTE and many other militant Tamil outfits had bases enjoyed strong support in Tamil Nadu starting in 1983. The government’s investigation into the assassination revealed that the guerilla warfare by the LTTE against the Sri Lankan government was sustained to a great extent by the help provided by the people of Tamil Nadu and the local authorities. We should not forget this painful part of our history when asking countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan to shut down militant bases operating from their territories.
Eventually four of the twenty six accused were sentenced to death and the others were jailed for different periods of time. Nalini Sriharan and her husband were two of the accused sentenced to death (Nalini’s role was exposed by the images in the camera used by LTTE photographer S Haribabu who was killed in the blast). It was clear early on that the death sentences probably would not be carried out. Only one person has been executed in India since 1995 and although many individuals are sentenced to death the execution itself is rarely carried out.
But Nalini’s 19 year stay in jail is not typical. She had a baby in jail (Megara) and both she and her husband Murugan stay in the same jail (Vellore Jail in Tamil Nadu). Murugan and Nalini are allowed to meet each other twice a month. In the year 2000 Nalini’s death sentence was commuted to life in prison primarily due to the intervention of Rajiv Gandhi’s wife and the President of the Congress Party Sonia Gandhi. Last year Sonia Gandhi’s daughter visited Nalini in jail. No details were released on what was discussed. Then Nalini went on a fast in jail demanding her release.
There are reports that indicate that senior prison officials have given the green signal to district probation officials and it is very likely that she will be released from prison soon. But is this fair? Other than being a model citizen in jail (if you believe the prison authorities) she has not shown or done anything to indicate that she is remorseful for her actions. She at every step has fought for her release from jail. She is yet to confess to her role in the tragedy. She does not consider herself as a killer and has not revealed who the other conspirators are. In an interview to PIT she said “the real killers Sivarasan, Suba and Dhanu were already dead”.
Nalini is the only surviving member from the original group of five that actually committed the execution. But she is about to be released. Her husband who was not part of the group of five is still facing the death penalty. So it appears to me that Nalini has cleverly manipulated the system, exploited her connections and is about walk out of jail after spending just 19 years for committing one of the worst mass murders in India’s history. She is only 44 years old
Unfortunately like many things in India the voice of the families of the other 14 victims are silent. What do they feel about the killer of their loved ones walking free after serving just 19 years of a life sentence? Who will talk on their behalf?
Related posts:
- Tamils in India Should Stop Batting For Sri Lankan Tamils
- Who is a Terrorist?
- P.C. Alexander Should Stop Talking About Morality
- Eradicating Corruption in India: Sonia Gandhi’s Ill-Advised 4 Step Process
- Sonia Gandhi Destroying Indian Religion, Culture and Traditions
Category: News & Government
C’est Indie monsieur…
This is INDIA, if one of the Verrappan’s killer can die in the road, and ministers passing nearby do not give two hoots, then she is just another communal terrorist..
Sad but true.
I am not aware of the details but I wonder if the fact that she had a baby was the clinching factor, if she did not have any kin to take care of the baby then that coupled with the Gandhi influence might have worked in her favour. Next she should run for office to complete the cycle!!
I think the baby is a factor. I also forgot to add in the article that when in jail she also studied and got a Master’s degree in computer applications.
We don’t seem to see politics in this episode.
Just wait,we may have a surprise in place.
I will not buy this baby story–since when have the politicians become so considerate?There are millions of children dying of cold,dying of hunger,dying of dehydration,dying of malnutrition–why not show a bit of concern for those children too?It is nonsense.
And Subramaniam Swamy has already made his views clear.
There is no pressing reason for releasing her from jail.