India to seek mercy for 2 Tamil Nadu men in Qatar

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who had sought a report about the case from Indian envoy in Qatar two days ago, on Monday said the Embassy has requested Tamil Nadu government to help in filing mercy plea for Alagappa Subramaniam and Chelladurai Perumal. “I have received report from Qatar reg death sentence for Alagappa Subramaniam and Chelladurai Perumal both from Tamil Nadu. We have to file mercy petition on behalf of their family members. 

Our Embassy has requested Govt of Tamil Nadu in this regard,” Swaraj tweeted. While Subramaniam hails from Villupuram, Perumal is a resident of Virudhunagar. Nanguneri Congress MLA H Vasanthakumar, had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swaraj, seeking urgent intervention in in the issue. The then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa last year sanctioned Rs 9.5 lakh to take care of the expenses for filing the appeal in the Qatar court. 

Speaking to DTNext, Rajammal, working as a labourer in a match stick company at Thammanayakampatti village in Virudhunagar district, said her husband Chelladurai Perumal went to Qatar as construction labourer. “He sent money back for the first three months and later it stopped. With much efforts we learnt that he was arrested in a murder case. In 2016 when we spoke to him, he informed us that he was innocent and would be released soon,” Rajammal said. 

Suresh Kumar, a lawyer from Nagercoil has been helping the family. “My husband is suffering from failure of both the kidneys and is undergoing dialysis. Taking his medical condition into account he must be released,” she demanded. National Domestic Workers Movement-Migrant Forum state co-ordinator Valarmathi said no one has any idea on the whereabouts of Alagappa Subramaniam.