Chennai: Nalini Sriharan, a convict in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case allegedly attempted suicide Monday night. Nalini is currently in Vellore Special Prison for Women. Nalinia, one of the persons convicted in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, tried to kill herself by suicide after a fellow prisoner complained that she was harassing her. When prison officials were inquiring about the development, Nalini allegedly tried to strangle herself with a piece of cloth. However, officials present prevented her from doing so.
Nalini’s advocate P Pugalenthi, also claimed that she tried to commit suicide after the warden favoured the complainant. Jail authorities however, have a different story to offer. They confirmed that Nalini had indeed harassed another inmate. When she was questioned she threatened to kill herself. However, before she could take the extreme step, the warder and two others prevented her from doing so.
Also read: Rajiv Gandhi killer Nalini released on parole for daughter’s wedding
Pugalenthi also said that the Vellore prison is not safe for Nalini. Hence a request would soon be made to shift her out from there and transferred to the Puzhal central prison in Chennai. He added that a formal complaint would be lodged against the warder and other jail officials for not being able to provide enough safety to Nalini.
Nalini was sentenced to death for her role in the 1991 assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. He was killed by a suicide bomber belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The dastardly act took place during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. Nalini’s sentence was reduced to life term on the intervention of Rajiv Gandhi’s wife Sonia Gandhi. Years later, the Supreme Court commuted the sentence of six more convicts in the case.
Last year, Nalini was granted parole for a month for her daughter Harithra’s wedding. Her daughter studies medicine in the UK. It should also be stated here that in 2019 Nalini had demande mercy killing. Nalini had sent a letter demanding mercy killing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Madras High Court Chief Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and the TN Home Secretary’s office.
