Nalini goes on fast to seek early release

CHENNAI: Nalini Sriharan, serving a life term for role in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, began an indefinite fast on Monday in the Vellore central prison, demanding early release from jail.

Nalini's protest began even as her petition in the Madras High Court, seeking proper constitution of an advisory board to consider her case for release, is pending. She has contended that even though the high court had directed reconstitution of the board last year, the government had not yet formed such a panel.

Nalini, whose death sentence was commuted to life a few years ago, has completed more than 18 years in prison.

According to prison sources, Nalini refused to take food from Monday morning and threatened to remain on a fast until death, if the government failed to take any action on the high court direction and recommend her release. Prison authorities confirmed that she had commenced an indefinite fast.

The high court had last year set aside the recommendation of the advisory board against her release, and the government order rejecting her plea. The court's main reasoning was that the board had not been properly constituted. The state government has now amended its prison rules and fixed fresh norms for formation of advisory boards that will look into petitions for premature release of prisoners.

Nalini had recently completed her Masters in Computer Application from Indira Gandhi National Open University along with her husband Sriharan alias Murugan. She had told the prison authorities that she wanted to get a job and wished to take care of her daughter after getting out of the prison.

Nalini nurtured hopes of premature release from prison, when Priyanka Gandhi visited her at Vellore prison on March 19 last year. Nalini and those close to her had speculated that the Gandhi family had pardoned her and that it might result in her release, but so far her hopes have been belied.

Meanwhile, Robert Payas, another convict serving a life term in the Rajiv assassination case, continued a similar protest he had begun a few days ago. Prison sources said Payas is on a fast for the last six days demanding his release.