Rajiv's fasting assassins admitted to hospital

Chennai, July 13 (UNI) Rajiv Gandhi's assassins Murugan and Nalini, who are on indefinite fast since June 25, were admitted to a hospital following deterioration in their condition.

The duo, lodged in the Vellore central prison, are demanding grant of visa to their daughter Arithra to pursue her education in India. Arithra, a Sri Lankan citizen, is staying with Murugan's parents in Colombo.

Police sources told UNI that while Murugan was admitted to the Vellore Government Hospital at Adukambarai near the high-security prison late last night, his wife Nalini was hospitalised this morning.

They were taken to hospital after they refused to call off their fast despite repeated pleas by Vellore District Collector Dharmendra Prasad Yadav and Jail Superintendent M Ashok Kumar.

The Collector and the SP, accompanied by a medical team, visited the jail premises to examine the condition of the couple.

Hospital sources said their condition was weak but stable.

Arithra, who has completed her tenth standard, had applied for a visa at the Indian embassy in Colombo for pursuing her studies in Tamil Nadu in India.

Murugan and Nalini were sentenced to death in the Rajiv assassination case. While the mercy petition of Murugan was pending before the President, Nalini's death sentence was commuted to life.

The couple's admission in the hospital, came a day after the Madras High Court issued a notice to the Home Ministry on a petition filed by an advocate demanding immediate medical treatment for the couple.

Meanwhile, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, a staunch supporter of Eelam Tamils, sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure a visa to Arithra.

Mr Vaiko requested the Prime Minister to direct the Indian High Commission in Colombo to issue the visa to Arithra to study in India and meet her parents in the prison on humanitarian grounds.

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