Iranian Consul General to India Mohammad Haghbin Ghomi on Wednesday met Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and conveyed the grievances of two convicts, both Iranian citizens, lodged in Puzhal central prison in Chennai.
The diplomat, who met the inmates Mosavi Masood and Mohammad Zaffrani convicted in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act case at the prison on Tuesday, said they were denied A-Class facilities and not even allowed to purchase food of their choice at the jail canteen.
The prison authorities did not post the letters written by the two convicts to the Iran Consulate officials seeking their intervention, Mr. Ghomi alleged.
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Denied facilities
“The Chief Minister assured us that he will look into the matter. The two Iran nationals are complaining that they are being denied A-class facilities they are legally entitled to. They are not allowed to buy food in canteen using their money...their letters to the Iranian Consulate are also stopped from being posted,” Syed Hyder, Public Relations Officer to the Consul General told
He said the convicts had also expressed concern that they were not allowed to stitch their uniform as prescribed by the jail manual by purchasing cloth outside. “We have requested the Tamil Nadu government to look into the matter on humanitarian grounds,” he said.
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On March 23, 2013, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) busted a clandestine laboratory that was manufacturing methamphetamine in Sivaganga district and detained the two Iranian nationals who were running it.
A large quantity of the drug, worth several crores of rupees in the international market, was seized.
The two foreigners and three others were convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by a trial court in Pudukottai district early this year.
Mr. Hyder said the Consul General also discussed other issues. such as admissions of Iranian students to universities in Tamil Nadu and business ventures. “The Chief Minister invited the Consul General to the Global Investors Meet to be held in January,” Mr. Hyder added.