Angry, disappointed and helpless: Victims of blast that killed Rajiv Gandhi react to release of convicts

Those who had suffered injuries in the blast and bereaved families opined that the top court order has set a "wrong and bad precedent".

ByShilpa Nair

Published Nov 11, 2022 | 6:16 PMUpdatedNov 11, 2022 | 6:35 PM

The Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at the site where the former prime minister was assassinated at Sriperumbudur in Chennai. (Wikimedia Commons)

The premature release of all six convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case has left the families of the victims and those who suffered injuries in the 21 May 1991 suicide bomb blast at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu angry, disappointed and helpless.

The Supreme Court on Friday, 11 November, ordered the release of Nalini Sriharan, Robert Pais, Murugan, Santhan, Ravichandran and Jayakumar — who were undergoing life imprisonment in connection with the case. Another convict, AG Perarivalan, was released in May 2022.

The court issued the order based on a previous directive to release AG Perarivalan after the Governor of Tamil Nadu inordinately delayed acting on the state Cabinet’s recommendation in 2018 to release all seven convicts.

As many as 17 people, including Gandhi and the suicide bomber, Thenmozhi Rajaratnam alias Kalaivani Rajaratnam alias Dhanu, were killed in the explosion that left more than 40 others injured.

“How is this justice?”

Abbas was orphaned at the age of 10 after his mother, a Congress worker, was killed in the explosion. He was at a loss for words when South First spoke to him.

“This is the same Supreme Court that had once said that these convicts must be hanged to death. And now it is ordering their release from prison”, he fumed.

Abbas is now operating a small shop selling mobile phone accessories in Chennai.

“How could one even react to something like this? Law and justice are for people who have money and for criminals. Poor people like us are helpless and have to remain silent even when injustice is meted out to us”, he continued.

The man, now in his 40s, recalled how his mother’s death in the terror strike had affected his life — his education, financial condition, emotional well-being, etc.

“Rahul Gandhi may have forgiven them (the convicts). Perhaps he has to do it because he is a leader of a political party, the Congress. It may be his decision”, he said.

“But why should we forgive them? Our lives were turned upside down for no fault of ours. My mother’s remains were given to us in a pouch. In a pouch! Could you even imagine the pain we must have gone through”, he asked.

Abbas is not the only one who has been pained by the Supreme Court order. Additional Superintendent of Police (Retired) Anusuya Ernest, too, expressed her disappointment.

Anusuya was a sub-inspector on duty at Sriperumbudur when the human bomb detonated. Though she escaped, pellet injuries and burns suffered in the blast still hurts the former officer. While speaking to South First, she wondered if the Indian law was designed to help the criminals or the innocent.

‘Bad and dangerous precedent’

Both Abbas and Anusuya opined that the Supreme Court order has set a “bad and dangerous” precedent.

“What message is this order giving? Terrorists or other criminals will now think that they can come out of jail after committing a serious crime, such as assassinating the prime minister, by making some emotional appeal”, Anusuya said.

Abbas went on to say that if the society accepted the order, it would set a dangerous precedent.

“In the case of Perarivalan — though it was wrong and disappointing— we made peace with his release thinking that he was perhaps unaware of the terror plot when he bought those batteries (used to trigger the explosion). We were confident that the court would not release the six others. But look what has happened”, Abbas rued.

He claimed that after Perarivalan had walked out of jail, he wrote to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin requesting the government not to release the remaining six. Abbas, however, received no reply.

‘Stop glorifying terrorists’

While expressing their anguish over the apex court order, both Abbas and Anusuya emphasised that it was wrong on the part of certain political parties and other groups to celebrate the release of the life convicts. The duo urged against glorifying the seven individuals.

“All these political parties keep talking about the criminals and that they should be released on humanitarian grounds. Where is that humanity when it comes to victims like us? As many as 17 families had lost their dear ones”, she argued.

“Has any leader ever visited us to see our living conditions or how we are coping with our life after the blast? Though in jail, these people lived a life of luxury. A convict’s (Nalini) daughter is living in London. But here, many families had lost their sole breadwinners. But nobody even speaks about us. Aren’t we also Tamils?”, the former police officer did not hide her anger.

When asked if they would appeal against the order, she added: “Do you think I can fight a legal battle with my pension money? The government has to appeal. But here, sadly, the government itself is considering the release of the six convicts as its victory. The government recommended their release. What hope do people like us have,” she asked.

Though not financially sound, Abbas said he would consult with the members of other bereaved families on whether to appeal against the verdict.