Indian prisoners in Sri Lanka send SOS to Jayalalithaa

3 November 2011 04:33 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

A spokesman for 34 Indian prisoners 27 from Tamil Nadu and seven from Kerala said they were being ignored though India and Sri Lanka signed a pact in June on exchange of sentenced convicts.

An almost sobbing Indian prisoner told IANS over mobile telephone that while Pakistanis and Maldivians have managed to go home thanks to their governments, the Indian establishment appeared unconcerned about them.

"Is it because we come from Kerala and Tamil Nadu and so no one in Delhi is interested in us?" asked the prisoner. "Yes, we committed crime and are in jail. But is there not an agreement that can take us to India?"

He was referring to the agreement Colombo and New Delhi signed during Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to India in June that calls for exchange of sentenced prisoners between the two countries.

The plight of the Indians in Sri Lankan jails, including in Negombo and Anuradhapura, has been raised in the Indian parliament. But the prisoners say nothing is moving in their favour.

"We are not asking for favours; we are not demanding freedom," said the prisoner. "All we are saying is implement the agreement and put us in jail in India.

"Sir, we too are humans. We also want to see our families occasionally. It can happen only if we are in India. Is that too much to ask for?"

The prisoner, speaking on a borrowed mobile telephone, said he and his compatriots believed that if there was one Indian leader who could take up their cause to its logical conclusion, it was Jayalalithaa.

"The Tamil Nadu chief minister is our hope. The Indian government has let us down. The way she speaks for Indian fishermen has convinced us that she alone can provide us relief.

"We want the chief minister to intervene and help us," he said pleadingly.

Indians in Sri Lanka have been sentenced over a variety of crimes, including drug smuggling. At least one has been in jail for 18 long years. Many have put in about 10 years.

The prisoner who spoke to IANS said most Indians in Sri Lankan jails came from poor families and were also suffering physically and emotionally.

He said that Gopalkrishna Gandhi was the only Indian high commissioner who got six Indians freed all females.

The prisoners in Sri Lanka say they have made repeated representations to Indian ministers and MPs, but nothing has happened.

The prisoner said it was interesting that New Delhi went out of its way to ensure justice to Indians jailed in Pakistan.

"Why this discrimination?" he asked. "This is why we want the Tamil Nadu chief minister to take up our cause. We feel she can succeed where others have failed." (Souce: IANS)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Indian prisoners in Sri Lanka send SOS to Jayalalithaa

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

New Visa procedure implemented

April 15 declared a government holiday

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

Suspicious death of 23-year-old woman at hotel sparks concerns

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

100 Police personnel trained to target criminals operating on motorbikes

Catholic Church receives full report

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali’s possession of Gota’s Range Rover

We are struggling with severe shortage of staff – Excise Chief

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win