KERALA NURSE ON DEATH ROW: YEMENI FAMILY AGREES TO PAY COMPENSATION

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nimisha Priya’s family continues to live in hope after reports from Yemen hinted that the family of the man she murdered has agreed to negotiate for compensation to pardon the nurse from Kerala who is on a death row in the west Asian country.

Her husband Tomi Thomas said she called him on Thursday from prison to inform that Yemini officials told her they were in touch with the family of the slain man, Talal Abu Mehadi.

Priya’s case dates back to 2017 when she and her colleague Hanan, a Yemini national, injected Mehadi with a sedative and killed him. She was sentenced to death by a Yemini court in 2018, and the verdict was upheld by the highest court of the country as well.

The family of the victim was not willing to pardon her initially, and insisted she be executed, but have come around after her “heart-rending stories appeared in many channels and dailies”, claimed Thomas. The concept of blood money is an established one in some Muslim countries .

“This is really a positive development. She told me it will be ideal if we clinch an agreement during the ongoing Ramadan period, a season of hope and mercy. We hope the ministry of external affairs, and people working for her release, will expedite the process,” he said.

There are reports that the victim’s family sought 50 million Yemini Rial (₹1.5 crore ) as blood money, but Thomas said he has no idea about the exact amount sought by the family.

Officials of the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council, a group formed to coordinate her case, confirmed the talks are at a crucial stage.

“We are monitoring the issue closely and all possible help will be extended to save her life,” said a senior MEA official on condition of anonymity.

Last week, former judge of the Supreme Court, justice Kurian Joseph, agreed to lead talks to save Nimisha Priya from the gallows.