CPI(M) urges TN Government to cancel release of convicts

Chennai, Sept 15 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) today took exception to the premature release of three people, who were handeddown life sentences in connection with the murder of party councillor Leelavathy in 1997 and urged the Government to cancel the release order.

In a letter to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, CPI(M) state unit secretary N Varadarajan said the release of the three people, who were convicted on charges of murdering Ms Leelavathy due to political rivalry, was not justifiable and it hurt the party.

Stating that the Centre and State Governments had rights to order premature release of prisoners, Mr Varadarajan said the Supreme court had clearly said that the benefit should not be extended to professional killers and those involved in political murders.

He said Ms Leelavathy, who was the Councillor of Madurai Corporation, was done to death by her political rivals for taking up the cause of local people.

The DMK Government today released 1,405 life convicts, who had served a minimum of seven years and had good conducts on the occasion of the centenary of former Chief Minister C N Annadurai.

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