Romance survives a murder, three decades of prison time

CHENNAI: After almost three decades of incarceration in two prisons in Tamil Nadu's Vellore in a dacoity-cum-murder case, a couple was reunited on October 6th.

Subramani and Vijaya

- both in their 60s - left for Tirupur to start their life together once again.


It was love at first sight for Subramani of

Tirupur's Natchipalayam village

when he saw Vijaya, a folk artist from Sri Lanka. Vijaya, who is known as 'Pakka' Vijaya now, reciprocated the love. Though Subramani belonged to a well-to-do family, he opted for love over wealth and started living with her.

However, an inebriated man tried to sexually abuse Vijaya while she and Subramani were sleeping on a roadside in Sulur in 1987. The couple fought to defend themselves, but the man was killed in the brawl, Subramani said.

Police arrested the couple and booked them for murder and dacoity. With no legal aid and support from relatives, Subramani and Vijaya ended up in the

Vellore Central Prison for Men

and

Vellore Special Prison for Women

, respectively, after a court awarded them life imprisonment.

With the help of the counsel of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case life convict Nalini Sriharan, the couple obtained permission from the prison department to meet once in 15 days.

Vijaya was released in 2013 and she stayed in a home for people with learning difficulties. Subramani, who was released on October 6, was taken to the home where she was staying. The moment Vijaya saw Subramani, she ran like a child towards him and held his hands firmly. "We were imprisoned for our act of defence. There is no one for my Vijaya. I will take care of her and live for her," Subramani said.