Nalini Sriharan who was one of the seven convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination case has attempted to commit suicide in the Vellore women prison as communicated by her lawyer. She has been lodged in jail since 1991.
“Yesterday night, we received information that Nalini attempted to commit suicide in prison. Immediately, we enquired from police officials and prison officials. They said that the information is correct,” told Advocate P Pugalenthi appearing for Nalini.
However, police and prison authorities had denied the Nalini’s side of story and told that she was only threatening to commit suicide after falling into an argument with a prison inmate. They also stated that Nalini is in good health condition.
They claimed that Nalini was harassing a prison inmate and kept treating her like a helper. Following which the fellow prisoner complained to the warder. The concerned authorities came immediately to inquire about the matter. Nalini resisted cooperating with the officials and started giving threats of committing suicide.
One of the senior police officials told that The warden and other prison officials immediately stepped out of her cell, ensuring that she didn’t attempt suicide.
“There was a verbal duel between Nalini and a fellow life convict on Monday. Around 8.30 pm, the warder went to Nalini’s cell and conducted an inquiry, expressing her support to the other woman inmate. Upset over it, Nalini attempted to strangle herself with a piece of cloth,” stated Advocate P Pugalenthi.
He said that the prison officials present there immediately intervened and rescued her.
Pugalenthi further added, “We want inquiry into it as she never showed such an attitude during her 30-year incarceration. We request CM to move her to Puzhal prison. She isn’t safe in Vellore prison.”
He told that they will file a complaint with the prison DIG against the warder and others.
