Ashram bid to free Keralite from Oman jail

ALAPPUZHA: Steps are afoot to get the release of Santhosh, 47,  of Ambalappuzha from a jail in Oman where he has been languishing for some two decades on murder charges.

Gururatnam Gnana Thapaswi, organising secretary of  Shanthigiri Ashram, Thiruvananthapuram, met his relatives at his home on Wednesday and  said that the ashram representatives would meet the union home and  foreign ministers and  request them to send an official delegation to Oman to bring Santhosh back home. A memorandum will also be submitted to the National Human Rights Commission to take steps in the matter, he said.

Santhosh, Vadakke Velloor, Ambalappuzha north panchayat,  a construction worker,  had gone to Oman in 1992.   He was framed with  murder charge after four Pakistan natives, who were staying near his house, killed two bank security officials during a robbery attempt. They had used a concrete cutter rented out from Santhosh for the murders.  

Shajahan, a Varkala native, who was also sentenced to life term in the case,  has already been released. The plight of Santhosh,  who was  jailed in central prison, Sumail , Oman, came to light after  NRI business man Habeeb Rahman from Amabalappuzha north panchayat  met Santhosh in jail recently. He has also  spoken to  his sponsor for his release.          

His mother Bharathi Amma died six years ago and his  father Thankappan  lives with six siblings at Ambalappuzha.  They had made several  attempts through the  state and centre governments for his release, but nothing had worked out.