Nalini Sriharan, one of the life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case lodged in the Special Prison for Women, Vellore, is observing a fast demanding her transfer to Puzhal Prison.
According to P. Pugalenthi, her advocate, she began the fast on June 13 and submitted a petition to the Superintendent of Prison. She completed 26 years of imprisonment on June 12.
Instigation charge
After meeting her at the prison on Friday, Mr. Pugalenthi said, “She has sought transfer from Vellore prison to Puzhal prison. She said that prison officials were instigating other prisoners to act against her. She told me that she was being harassed in the prison.”
He said that she would continue to fast till she is transferred to Puzhal prison. He urged the Chief Minister to intervene and take steps to shift her from Vellore prison.
This was not the first time that she was making a transfer plea. In 2010, the prison department authorities transferred her to Puzhal prison after she complained of harassment by prison authorities in Vellore. She was shifted back to the Vellore prison in 2011 on a request.
However, prison sources said she was not fasting and was following the diet prescribed by her doctors. “She is taking fruits and tender coconut as prescribed in her diet. She had submitted a petition to the prison officials seeking transfer to Puzhal as her family members were in Chennai,” the source said.
