Jaya criticises release of life convicts

CHENNAI: AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa on Sunday criticised the release of 1,405 life convicts in Tamil Nadu on September 15 to commemorate the birth centenary of DMK founder and later Chief Minister C N Annadurai.    

In a release here, Jayalalithaa expressed apprehensions that the persons released prematurely could take to crime again, thus affecting peace in the state.
   
She said the DMK Government's decision to release life convicts who had spent seven years in jail and five years for those above 60 years was against known pratice.
   
"The Supreme Court had recently clarified that life imprisonment means the person has to be jailed for life. So, how can these persons be freed?" she questioned adding her party was against the release of the life convicts.