Chennai:
The startling claim by Vellore Prison officials that a mobile phone was seized from Nalini Sriharan's cell has created a flutter in Tamil Nadu. Sources say calls were made to Canada and the UK from the seized phone. The issue rocked the Tamil Nadu Assembly as the Congress demanded a thorough probe.
Furious Congress MLAs allege that calls were made to Canada and the United Kingdom where it is believed LTTE sympathisers are still active.
The DMK ally has cautioned the state government about a new threat from militants probably in touch with the life convict and has now demanded that Nalini be kept in solitary confinement.
"This shows there is some big conspiracy behind. The government should probe the matter and cancel 'A' class of Nalini and put her in separate jail," said Gnanasekaran, senior Congress MLA.
"The instrument has now been sent for proper analysis and we can make any conclusion only after getting the details of call records," said Duraimurugan, Tamil Nadu Law Minister.
However, the pro-Tamil outfits are not ready to buy this argument. They accuse the police of conspiring against Nalini's premature release.
"There is no possibility of getting a mobile phone and Sim card. I suspect that there is a foul play to prevent her early release," said Ravi Kumar, VCK, MLA.
The mobile seizure comes just days after Nalini lodged 2 complaints against the prison officials for harassing her. Now pro-Tamil outfits allege an investigation by the same officials will be biased. They demand that the government order a judicial probe into Nalini's complaint.