Chennai: With just four days left to file an appeal against the death sentence awarded to two migrants by the Qatar government, families of the accused along with activists on Monday urged the Centre to provide legal assistance to the accused.
Two migrants, Alagappa Subramaniam from Pudukottai and Chelladurai Perumal from Virudhunagar were sentenced to death by shooting on May 15 this year for allegedly murdering an elderly woman for gain. Another migrant, Sivakumar Arasan of Salem, was awarded life for the same crime.
A moist-eyed, C. Rajammal, wife of Chelladurai, told DC about their poor financial condition and how they were completely helpless. “We had been stepping into many government offices to help us. Our hope is slowly dying as nothing has worked out yet,” said Rajammal whose children are working in a matchbox-manufacturing factory to support the livelihood.
The family had borrowed over Rs 60,000 to meet Chelladurai’s expenses to go to Doha at Qatar. “We still have not cleared our debts. He had sent us Rs 30,000. How can we afford the legal expenses,” questioned Rajammal fighting back tears.
Advocate Suresh Kumar who came to know about the issue through a consumer forum had taken it up with prominent politicians including Union minister, Pon. Radhakrishnan and State BJP president, Tamilisai Soundararajan. “The Indian embassy in Qatar is expecting the consent from Tamil Nadu government to proceed with it,” Suresh Kumar told DC.
“It would cost around Rs 3.5 lakh to file an appeal against the judgment. Appeal has to be filed before July 30”, said Suresh.
Details of Alagappa Subramaniam and Sivakumar Arasan were not completely known, said state coordinator of migrant forum, National Domestic Workers Movement, M. Valarmathi. “Alagappa Subramaniam’s wife was unwilling to give details about his children. We could not contact Sivakumar Arasan as he is admitted to a hospital for mental illness,” said Suresh.
