Convict in Rajiv Gandhi murder, Robert Payas, seeks mercy killing

Robert Payas, one of the convicts in Indian former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case on Wednesday wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu government and sought mercy killing saying he should be killed on grounds of mercy and his body should be handed over to his family.

Talking to leading news agency PTI, a top prison official said,”Payas has petitioned the government through the Puzhal prison authorities.”

In an emotional letter to Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Payas said,”I’ve been in prison for more than 27 years now…I can understand the intention of the government. Also, for the past many years since none of my family members or relatives have visited me I do not think that there is any meaning in my life.”

Referring to Jayalalithaa’s initiative to release the convicts Payas said,”We do not know why our release has been put on hold. Jayalalithaa’s decision to release the convicts was reflective of the aspiration of Tamils not only in Tamil Nadu, but across the world, to see them free.”

Blaming the Centre-both the previous UPA government and the incumbent NDA for opposing their release, Payas said that he understood that the intention of the state and Centre was to confine them in prison.

“I have come to the conclusion that there is no use living when there is no scope for release,” he said, adding that the very long prison sentence has punished not only him, but also his family.

Payas has completed 26 years of incarceration and entered the 27th year on June 11 this year.

Source: India.com