Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Mar 27: Ismail Kunhi Ahmed (54) from Piraramoole in Hosangady, Manjeshwar in the district, is a free man now, after spending 15 invaluable years of his life inside a Sri Lankan jail, for a crime he was not even a part of.

Fifteen youthful years could have been put to more productive use, like achieving financial stability and spending time with family and friends, but Ahmed does not allow these thoughts to spoil his future, and wants to live life to the fullest henceforth.

Ismail used to work as a driver at his hometown. His friends used to coax him to come to Sri Lanka to work there, claiming that better opportunities awaited drivers there. In pursuit of greener pastures, Ismail flew from Chennai Airport to Sri Lanka in 1999.

When one of the fellow passengers requested him to help transport a suitcase to Sri Lanka, Ismail readily agreed, little realizing that this decision of his might shatter his dreams, and change the course of his life forever.

During routine check by immigration department officials on his arrival at the airport in Sri Lanka, it was found that 900 grams of brown sugar had been concealed inside the suitcase Ismail had agreed to carry. Ismail was jailed. At the advice of an advocate there, Ismail also signed a confession, hoping that this step would help him to get released. A court there however, sentenced him to 20 years in jail. Betrayal by co-passenger, innocence, and lack of legal knowledge, proved to be the bane of his life.

Family members of Ismail came to know about the fate that had befallen on Ismail just three years back. After that, they brought pressure on the government through different people’s representatives for his release. MP, E T Basheer, raised the topic of 32 Indians including Ismail, who had been languishing in Sri Lankan jails for various offences in the Lok Sabha. Thereafter, MP, Karunakaran, also wrote to the prime minister, President, and defence minister, about the need to come to the rescue of these Indians. After union defence minister, A K Antony, and minister, Vayalar Ravi, intervened, the Sri Lankan government handed over 32 people who were in jails there since a long time, to India last year.

Out of these 32, Ismail had been awarded 20 years of jail, while the others were facing life term. Ismail had completed 14 years and 9 months of imprisonment in Sri Lanka. After Ismail spent 13 months in Poojappura Central Jail in Thiruvananthapuram, he was released recently. Explaining about the condition prevalent in Sri Lankan jails, Ismail said that jail inmates there neither get proper treatment, nor get paid as in India for the work done inside jails.

The house of Ismail wears a festive look now, with his arrival there after a prolonged absence. The house is witnessing steady flow of friends, relatives, and well-wishers the entire day. Ismail, who is determined to put his bitter experience behind the back and spend the remaining years of his life meaningfully, is receiving everyone with an affectionate smile.