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.
