LANKAN CONVICTS RELEASED IN RAJIV CASE TO BE SENT BACK: TN OFFICIALS

CHENNAI: Four convicts in the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, all Sri Lankan nationals, who were among six people released from jail after the Supreme Court’s order on November 11, will be sent back to the neighbouring country, Tamil Nadu officials familiar with the matter said on Monday.

The four Sri Lankan nationals were taken to a special refugee camp in Trichy district on Saturday evening after their release from Vellore Jail on the direction of the Union government, said Trichy district collector Praveen Kumar.

“I’ve spoken to the FRRO (foreign regional registration offices) of the ministry of external affairs and they have already sent a communication to the Sri Lankan embassy, who will have to confirm their citizenship so that they can be granted landing permission,” Kumar told HT. “Hopefully, we will hear back soon.”

On November 11, the Supreme Court ordered the release of six convicts in the 1991 Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, after the Tamil Nadu government controversially recommended their remission in March 2016.

The release of the six convicts came months after the Supreme Court on May 18 ordered the release of AG Perarivalan, the first of the seven convicts in the case, on grounds of poor health and good conduct.

The seven convicts – Perarivalan, Nalini Sriharan, Murugan alias Sriharan, Santhan, P Ravichandran, Robert Payas and S Jayakumar – were arrested in 1991.

Four of the total convicts, including Nalini’s husband Sriharan, are Sri Lankan nationals.