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19 accused in Rajiv murder case released

All the 19 accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, who were given a fresh lease of life by the Supreme Court yesterday, were released today.

While seven accused, including freelance photographer Suba Sundaram and Bangalore-based businessman Ranganath, were released from the central prison in Madras, the other 12 were released from Salem and Vellore prisons.

The released persons included four women lodged in the special prison for women in Vellore.

While the Indian nationals were set free, the Sri Lankan nationals were sent to the special camp in Vellore, prison sources in Madras said.

Barring Nalini, who has been sentenced to death, all the four women prisoners - Athirai, Shanti, Selvalakshmi and Nalini's mother Padma - who were lodged along with her were released.

While Athirai was sent to the special camp, the other three, who are Tamils from India, were sent home.

Of those released, 10 were Indian nationals and nine were Sri Lankans.

Besides Athirai, the other Sri Lankans who were sent to the camp are: Sankar alias Koneswaran, Vijayanandan, Siva Ruban, S Kanagasabapathy, Vijayan, S Shanmugavadivelue alias Thambi Anna, Rangan alias Rajasuriya and Vicky alias Vigneswaran.

The Indian nationals who escaped the hangman's noose are: Shanti, V Selvalakshmi, S Bhaskaran, Suseendran alias Magesh, Irumborai, S Bhagyanathan, Padma, Subha Sundaram, Dhanasekaran and Ranganath.

Though the central prison in Madras received the telex message of the Supreme Court's order around noon itself, there was a delay in releasing the prisoners as the jailors wanted to confirm the message.

UNI

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