(Some Prisoners Photos added....) Indian Prisoners in Sri Lanka's Wellikada jail are being brought in batches to jails in India! All of them ecstatic to back on their soil!

[Muthamizh Vendhan]

Indian Prisoners in Sri Lanka's Wellikada jail are being brought in batches to jails in India! All of them ecstatic to back on their soil! 

Since 5 years Manitham - a Human Rights Org. based in Tamil Nadu, working for transfer of Indian Prisoners in Sri Lanka.

Before 5 years, while taking this issue by Manitham, there were 43 Indian Prisoners in various Sri Lankan jails. Prisoners petitioned to Manitham and asked us to urge Indian and Tamil Nadu State govt. for their transfers. But at that time, no bi-lateral agreement was signed by the governments.

We got news that in Sri Lankan Prisons, mostly Indian, Pakistanies and Maldivens were behind bars. But except India, Pakistan and Maldives have already signed Exchange of Prisoners agreements and from time to time prisoners were bilaterly transfers were taking place and at such times, India prisoners got mentally upset.

Manitham with the petition from the 43 prisoners, started working, written to various govts. Once Manitham met Tamil Nadu Governor and forwarded prisoners petition alongwith our comments. We also passed this to Member of Parliament regarding this issue. Media persons from prime visual channels and print media, played an important role to open this issue to general public.

Pressure from various sides, Indian Government come to the table for signing of Exchange of Prisoners Agreement with Sri Lanka and it took place on 9th june 2010 and later again, Indian External Affair Minister signed 

27th november 2010 in Colombo, sri Lanka. Eventhen, because of formalities, it took two long years for despatch of first batch of prisoners from Sri Lanka.

Now there were 31 long standing Indian Prisoners in Sri Lanka and all were in at Welikada Prison, Colombo. Out of this 31, two women prisons are also inclusive.In this, 31 prisoners, 24 belongs to Tamil Nadu, 6 are Keralites and one Madhya Pradesh.

According to information available now, clearence has been given to 20 Indian prisoners and starting from yestereday, ie. 27th Feb, transfer to India has taken place batch after batch. since now, 6 Kerala priosner and 2 Tamil Nadu prisoners were boarded to Chennai.

Manitham learned that Tamil Nadu Government has not till now given clearence to Central Government for 11 prisoners jailed in Sri Lanka. So it is not immediate to giving clearence by the Indian government for these prisoners aboard to India.

Manitham urges Tamil Nadu Government to take immediate steps to verify all the procedures required by Home Ministry and despatch the papers concern Central Government departments. So that, long standing Indian Prisoners can get clearence for transfer to Indian soil.

--
www.manitham.net
mani...@gmail.com