Three Sri Lankan nationals convicted in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case — Murugan alias Sriharan, Robert Payas and Jayakumar — who were prematurely freed from prison and then detained at a special camp in Tiruchi, were deported to Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Sources said that on receipt of the final clearance from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to send them back to Sri Lanka, the Revenue Department, which runs the special camp, released them on Tuesday night. They were taken to Chennai, in a police vehicle, under tight security. They left for Sri Lanka around 10 a.m. by a Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Chennai.
An advocate, P. Pugazhendi, who facilitated their release from the special camp by submitting the required documents, also accompanied them to Sri Lanka.
Though Tamil Nadu’s Department of Home and the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Chennai, had approved the release of Murugan, Robert Payas, and Jayakumar a few weeks ago, they could not be released immediately as they did not have travel documents. The Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai issued Emergency Travelling Certificate (ETC), a one-time travel document, on March 25 to all of them.
Tiruchi Collector M. Pradeep Kumar told The Hindu that after the receipt of all travel documents and the landing permission, Murugan, Robert Payas, and Jayakumar were released from the special camp.
The three had been among four Sri Lankan nationals lodged in the special camp in the Tiruchi Central Prison complex since November 12, 2022, after the Supreme Court ordered their release. Santhan alias Suthendiraraja, who was released a few weeks ago from the special camp, died of ill health at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai on February 21.
The sources said Nalini, one of the freed convicts and the wife of Murugan, visited him at the special camp two days ago. The wife of Robert Payas and the family members of Jayakumar also met them at the camp and collected their belongings.
Sri Lankan Member of Parliament and general secretary of the Tamil National People’s Front Selvarajah Kajendren told The Hindu that the three freed convicts emerged out of the Bandaranaike International Airport in the evening, hours after their flight landed.
Earlier, the MP said the three remained inside the airport for over four hours since their flight landed and it appeared that they were detained for questioning. After they came out, Mr. Kajendren said the three would head to Jaffna in the Northern Province.
