DMK slams AIADMK regime over attack on Rajiv case convict

Chennai, Sep 14: A day after Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict AG Perarivalan was attacked with an iron rod inside the high security Vellore prison, DMK president Karunanidhi today alleged that the incident showed that even a prisoner in jail was "not safe" in AIADMK regime.

He said the attack on Perarivlan was an example which "showed the extent of deterioration of law and order, and how even a prisoner in jail is not safe in this (AIADMK) regime."

In a statement, he said, "though Perarivalan was attacked by another prisoner, it leads to quesitons like how the assailant-prisoner got the iron rod and if inmates could get anything if they wanted."

Against the background of Tamil Nadu government's efforts to secure release of Rajiv case convicts continuing to be pending in the Supreme court, he blamed the state government for not "appropriately handling the issue vis-a-vis legal requirements to get remission for the seven Rajiv case convicts."

He wondered why the state government should take recourse to Sec 435 of CrPc to give them remission when the Constitution has empowered the state to remit or commute sentences under Article 161.

Stating that the AIADMK government should own up responsibility for the attack, he said it must take steps for the release of Rajiv case convicts and give proper medical treatment for Perarivalan. Meanwhile, prison authorities in Vellore told PTI that Perarivalan was "doing well," and he continues to be lodged in the same High Security (HS) block. Rajesh Khanna, the prisoner who assaulted him, is lodged in another HS block, they said.

PTI