Verdict sounded; Death for Rajiv Gandhi killers on Sept 9

Chennai, Aug 27: Looks like the fate of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassins have been decided. After the mercy plea of the three LTTE activists Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan was rejected by President Pratibha Patil, it has finally emerged that all three convicts will be hanged on Sept 9.

After the official communication was passed on to the convicts by the jail authorities, the date of the hanging was decided upon by the Superintendent of the Vellore Central Prison. This is the prison that the accused are presently housed. The jail authorities are believed to have received the official communication from the President's office that rejected the mercy plea.

The copies of the President's communication were given to each of the convicts and sources claimed that they received the letters calmly. The source commented, "All the three under lock-up will be hanged before sunrise on Sept 9."

Ahead of the hanging, police sources revealed that security has been heightened around the jail premises and additional personnel have been deployed. The lawyers of the convicts are however intending to file an urgent review petition seeking to stay their execution.

Meanwhile, human rights activists, lawyers and law college students were seen protesting outside the High Court against the death sentence awarded to the trio. Human-chain protests were also carried out in various places in Chennai on Friday.

Awaiting the orders, the convicts have already served close to 20 years in jail. There are other prominent voices backing the death penalty awarded to the three convicts including DMK leader M Karunanidhi, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, PMK leader Dr S Ramadoss, state leaders of the CPI and CPM, Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P Nedumaran, Dravidar Kazhagam chief K Veeramani, “Naam Thamizhar" leader and film-director Seeman and other regional parties.

OneIndia News