VELLORE: Perarivalan Illam, the house of Rajiv Gandhi case convict A G Perarivalan, will now be known as ‘Senkodi Illam’. The renaming has been done in memory of P Senkodi, a 20-year-old woman who immolated herself over the award of death sentences to Rajiv case convicts.
The board bearing the name ‘Senkodi Illam’ has been present in front of Perarivalan’s house located at K K Thangavelu Street behind Jolarpettai Railway Station for the past few days.
On August 12, 2011, mercy petitions of three convicts - Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan - were rejected by the then President and subsequently, September 9 was fixed as the day to hang them. The incident led to widespread protests. During one such protest on August 28, 2011, law graduate Senkodi of Mangalapuram near Kancheepuram immolated herself in front of the government office at Orikkai. In her suicide note, she urged the Tamil Nadu government to commute their death penalty.
“As a mark of respect for Senkodi’s sacrifice against the death sentences, we have changed our house name to Senkodi Illam on September 9, the day fixed for execution in 2011,” Arputhammal, Perarivalan’s mother, told Express.
She urged the State government to extend the prison leave of Perarivalan by another 30 days saying the medical examination of Perarivalan’s father Kuyildasan had shown that he suffered from multiple ailments. Naam Tamilar Katchi coordinator Seeman and filmmaker Vetri Maran have also made similar pleas to the government to release him permanently or extend his leave. Seeman, Vetri Maran and actor Mayilsami also met Perarivalan in his house.