Rajiv Gandhi assassin’s mother wants mercy killing for son, TN govt explores legal options

In the backdrop of President Ram Nath Kovind rejecting Tamil Nadu government’s request to release the seven prisoners convicted for former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, Arputhammal, 71, mother of convict AG Perarivalan, on Friday demanded mercy killing (euthanasia) for her son, as he was ‘slowly dying in prison’.

“I don’t want my son to live in agony anymore and I am going to write to the state and Centre seeking mercy killing for my son,” Arputhammal told reporters.

Tamil Nadu law minister CV Shanmugham said the state would explore all legal options to ensure the release of all convicts jailed for assassinating Rajiv Gandhi.

“Our leader J Jayalalithaa wanted to release the convicts on humanitarian grounds and this government will work on that,” he said.

The state has twice approached the Centre and the home ministry on the subject and the matter is now pending before the Supreme Court, the minister said.