When a neighbour returned after 26 years
To catch a glimpse:Visitors wait outside the house of A.G. Perarivalan, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, after he was granted parole on Thursday. The visitors were allowed to meet him only after they registered their contact details with the police.C. Venkatachalapathy
Perarivalan, a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, gets rousing reception in his hometown
It is 10.30 in the morning, and number 11/9 on K.K. Thangavel Street in Jolarpet is witnessing endless visitors. Mangamma, a tenant in this house for the last 17 years, is excited on seeing the sudden flurry of activity. “It looks like a festival,” she remarked.
The neighbourhood, in fact, is glad that one of its residents has arrived after more than two decades. Years after his arrest, A.G. Perarivalan, one of the life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, stepped into his home on a rainy night on Thursday after the State government decided to grant him a 30-day parole. He was arrested at the age of 19 for his alleged role in the assassination.
“Perarivalan Illam” is witnessing a steady stream of visitors since Friday morning. Friends, relatives and neighbours, many of whom are meeting Perarivalan after 26 years and some for the first time, waited for their turn to be let inside the house after registering their names, address and phone numbers with the police.
Mangamma has only heard about Perarivalan from his mother Arputhammal. “I have heard her talk about him all these years, and last night, I saw him for the first time. I asked her if I could take ‘aarthi’ as he is returning home after so many years as that is our tradition,” she said.
As police personnel guarded the house, and the street, residents including Gowri and Fathima have been observing how this usually quiet neighbourhood has changed overnight. “I know Arivu (Perarivalan) since his childhood. He hardly spoke to anybody and was very quiet. I saw him last night after so many years, and I am glad he is here,” said Gowri.
“He should be released from prison. He has already spent so many years in jail,” added Fathima. Neighbours felt that he should be released so that he could live with his parents in their old age.
Samundi, a resident of Chinnamottur, said, “He was my junior at the Government High School in Jolarpet. I asked him if he recognised me, but he could not. I wanted to see him as he was a good friend,” he said.
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