NewsKarnataka-Kasargod

Kasargod : Ismail Kunhi Ahmed(54) who was languishing behind bars in Srilanka since the past 15 years  for no fault of his, has finally been released.

Ismail hailed from Piraramoole in Hosangady of Manjeshwar  had left for Srilanka in 1999 hoping to find greener pastures. He was a driver back in his hometown. However, an innocent Ismail had  agreed to take the suitcase of a fellow passenger to be handed over to someone in Srilanka. However, he was caught by immigration officials in Srilanka and was later sentenced to prison for 20 years.

His family came to know of his fate just three years ago and had pressurised the government to get him released. Later, Ismail along with 32 other Indian prisoners in Srilanka were transferred to India last year following an agreement and were lodged in Tiruvananthapuram prison since the past one year.

Ismail is the first among them to be released on completion of his punishment term. Most of them had left for Srilanka for business and other purposes.