Execution postponed but Nimisha Priya's fate continues to hang in balance

Thiruvananthapuram: The attempts to save Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya from death sentence was remaining uncertain as the family of the Yemeni national was insisting on the execution.

Though the last minute postponement of the execution brought relief, deceased Talal Abdo Mahdi's brother said in an interview to BBC Arabic that the family was still insisting on the execution. The family's stand was that there was no justification for a murder, whatever reason it may be, he reportedly said.

The murder of Mahdi had triggered emotions among the members of his community also. Hence there is a strong campaign against accepting blood money.

Yemeni Sufi scholar Shaikh Habeeb Ummer is learnt to be continuing with the efforts to negotiate with the family.

Grand Mufti of India and All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar had sought the help of the Sufi scholar. He has come down to Kerala a couple of times and is having a cordial relationship with Aboobacker.

Meanwhile, the efforts to help Priya had also triggered frictions among those involved in it, especially over staking claims.

Yemen-based Malayali social worker Samuel Jerome Bhaskaran, who has been trying to get relief for Priya and took her elderly mother to Yemen, had triggered the row by denouncing the talks initiated by the Aboobacker on Tuesday.

While Aboobacker's office released the order issued by the Yemen court postponing the execution, there were even campaigns raising suspicion over its veracity. There are also differences among members of an action council formed for saving Priya with some members raising suspicions over the use of funds raised by the action council.

At the same time, Raj Bhavan sources said that Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar too was exploring all options.

CPM state secretary M V Govindan called on Aboobacker on Wednesday to express gratitude for his interventions.

Congress MLA Chandy Oommen, who is the son of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, is being widely appreciated for taking up the matter with the Kerala Governor as well as the Grand Mufti. He also assured to arrange the blood money required for her release once Mahdi's family agrees to accept it.