The father of a Tamil man who has been in an Indian prison for more than 28 years over his alleged association in the killing of the Indian premier Rajiv Gandhi, passed away in Jaffna.
Murugan alias Sriharan, was unable to attend his father’s funeral, as he remains imprisoned in Indai, despite the Tamil Nadu government’s proposition to release seven people who have been convicted over the killing. Earlier this year, India’s central government rejected the Tamil Nadu government’s proposal, citing it was to avoid “international ramifications”.
Murugan had requested that he be able to speak to his father Vijayvel via video call in his final moments, as he battled cancer in Jaffna. His request was denied.
Seven Tamils - Nalini Sriharan, Murugan, Perarivalan, Robert Payas, Jayakumar, Santhan and Ravichandran – have been imprisoned over the assassination. Though Tamil Nadu has called for them to be released, including in a 2014 resolution passed by the cabinet, they remain jailed.
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