Murugan and his wife Nalini, convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case who are on an indefinite fast demanding an Indian visa for their daugther Arithra, have been admitted to hospitals following deterioration in their health.

Both of them have been on fast in the prisons where they are being held for the past 18 days.

While Murugan was admitted to Adukambarai government hospital on Wednesday night, Nalini was taken to the government hospital at Vellore on Thursday, District Collector Dharmendra Prasaid Yadav said.

Yadav told PTI on phone that both of them were admitted to hospital as a "precautionary measure".

"Both are active and talking and their condition is stable," he said.

Murugan and Nalini were awarded death sentences. Arithra now lives with Murugan's parents in Sri Lanka.

She completed her schooling recently and her parents want her to be given an Indian visa for pursuing higher studies.