NEW DELHI : The chief minister of an Indian state on Wednesday ordered the release of all seven people jailed for plotting the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
J. Jayalalithaa, chief minister of Tamil Nadu, announced the decision one day after the country’s top court lifted the death sentences on three of those convicted over Gandhi’s killing in a 1991 suicide bomb attack.
Critics immediately slammed the decision, calling it a transparent attempt to win over Tamil voters in this year’s national elections.
“Considering that they have spent over 23 years in prison, the cabinet decided to immediately release Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan under the powers vested with the state government,” Jayalalithaa said, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency, after a cabinet meeting.
Jayalalithaa said she would also release four others including a woman who are serving life sentences for their roles in the murder.
Gandhi was killed by a female Tamil suicide bomber in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.His killing was seen in India as retaliation for a 1987 Indian government pact with the Sri Lankan government to disarm the guerrillas, who had been trained and armed by New Delhi in the early 1980s.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription