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All seven convicted of Rajiv Gandhi assassination to be freed All seven convicted of Rajiv Gandhi assassination to be freed
(about 3 hours later)
All seven men jailed for killing the Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s All seven men jailed for killing the Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi are to be released, according to reports.
killers are to be released, according to reports.
The decision was announced on Wednesday morning, a day after India’s supreme court lifted deathThe decision was announced on Wednesday morning, a day after India’s supreme court lifted death
sentences from three men convicted in the assassination of Gandhi in 1991. Thesentences from three men convicted in the assassination of Gandhi in 1991. The
court commuted the sentences to life and said the government could not indefinitely keep people on death row – it has been 16 years since they were sentenced and three years since they filed mercycourt commuted the sentences to life and said the government could not indefinitely keep people on death row – it has been 16 years since they were sentenced and three years since they filed mercy
petitions.petitions.
InIn
its judgement the Indian supreme court said the government of its judgment the Indian supreme court said the government of
Tamil Nadu state where the attack occurred could decide whether or not to releaseTamil Nadu state where the attack occurred could decide whether or not to release
the three men.the three men.
On Wednesday the state’s chief minister, J On Wednesday, the state’s chief minister, J
Jayalalitha, reportedly decided at an emergency cabinet meeting in Chennai toJayalalitha, reportedly decided at an emergency cabinet meeting in Chennai to
release but seven of those convicted of Gandhi’s release all seven of those convicted of Gandhi’s
assassination, four of whom were serving life sentences.assassination, four of whom were serving life sentences.
The decision had been expected, but not so quickly, and the central government, led by Rajiv Gandhi’s own Congress The decision had been expected, but not so swiftly, and the central government, led by Gandhi’s own Congress
party – his widow Sonia Gandhi is the party’s president – now has theparty – his widow Sonia Gandhi is the party’s president – now has the
opportunity to respond.opportunity to respond.
“The supreme court has rendered the verdict which “The supreme court has rendered the verdict, which
should be respected,” Kapil Sibal, a Congress party minister,should be respected,” Kapil Sibal, a Congress party minister,
told India’s CNN-IBN news channel.told India’s CNN-IBN news channel.
The case is sure to revive a debate on India’sThe case is sure to revive a debate on India’s
death penalty and whether or not it is being applied consistently. Indeath penalty and whether or not it is being applied consistently. In
November 2012 a Kashmiri terror suspect, Afzal Guru, who maintained November 2012, a Kashmiri terror suspect, Afzal Guru, who maintained
his innocence was put to death by the government, sparking massive his innocence, was put to death by the government, sparking massive
protests in his home state.protests in his home state.