Rajiv case convict Perarivalan attacked with iron rod in jail

Vellore (TN), Sept 13 (PTI) A G Peralivalan, one of theseven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, wastoday assaulted with an iron rod inside inside the highsecurity central prison here by another inmate. Perarivalan, who has been lodged in the high securityblock, was attacked by another inmate Rajesh Khanna, a lifeconvict in a murder case. "Perarivalan was attacked with a piece of iron….an ironrod and it was used by another convict who is also in the highsecurity block, to assault the Rajiv case convict," a top jailofficial told PTI, adding he was now doing well. Police sources said the Rajiv case convict received blowsfrom the rod on his forehead, scalp and also his arms when hetried to fend off the attack. He was taken to hospital wherehis wounds were sutured, dressed and treated. They said an enquiry was being held by senior prisonofficials. On the reason for the attack, they indicated it wasrelated to shifting Khanna to another block. They declined togo further into it, since an enquiry was being held. Learning about the incident, Perarivalan’s motherArputhammal visited him. Later speaking to reporters here, she wondered how her’soft-spoken’ son could have become the target of an attack. Perarivalan, also known as ‘Arivu’ has been in prison forover 25 years after he was convicted in the case. Political parties, including the PMK, have demanded thatthe culprits behind the incident be punished. PMK chief Ramadoss said those behind the attack should bepunished. He urged the Tamil Nadu government to free all sevenconvicts on remission and in case of the legal processdelaying their release, the State should give them leave. MDMK chief Vaiko condemned the attack, saying theincident raised doubts if it was an attempt to murderPerarivalan. He demanded that the state provide him adequatesecurity and wanted it to find out the background to theattack. He also urged the government to release Perarivalan onparole. Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a suicide bomber atSriperumbudur near Chennai on May 21, 1991. Seven persons -Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan, Nalini, Robert Payas, Jayakumarand Ravichandran, were convicted in the case. Nalini’s death sentence was commuted to life in 2000following a cabinet recommendation and appeal by Rajiv’s wife,Sonia Gandhi. The Supreme Court had commuted the death sentence ofMurugan, Santhan and Perarivalan in February 2014 followingdelay in deciding on their mercy plea. The Tamil Nadu government had in March this year decidedto remit the sentences of all the seven convicts. However, the matter soon went to the Apex Court and ispending there, with the Centre questioning the State’s powersto grant remission to them on specific grounds. PTI VGN SA APRAPRRG