Durga Prasad Timsina, originally from Mai Municipality-10 of Ilam, arrived at Kakadvitta, Jhapa after being released from four-decade-long jail life in India. He was recently released from Dum Dum Correctional Home of Kolkata, India.
The 61-year-old had been lodged in various jails including the Dum Dum Correctional Home in India without trial for 40 years.
The division bench of Justice at Kolkata High Court Thottathil B Nair Radhakrishnan and Anirudra Roy had issued an order for Timsina’s release.
Timsina, who arrived at Kakadvitta at 9:15 am today along with his close kin and well-wishers via road way, gushed, “I can’t wait to meet my mother!” He received a warm welcome from the representatives of the Bishwa Sewa Bistar, a rescue organization, media persons and relatives.
In a press conference organized at Kadakvitta today, Timsina said that he served torturous jail term in Indian prisons despite being innocent.
The long jail term seem to have taken physical and mental toll on him as he looks too fragile. He speaks less and seems to be lost at thoughts.
According to Prakash Chandra Timsina, the freed prisoner’ brother, the Kolkata High Court issued order for release of Timsina on the ground of mental health and has asked to appraise the court about his health condition every six months. The final verdict on Timsina’s case was, however, awaited.
During the press conference, Timsina recalled his parents and siblings’ names. His father’s name is Champakhar and mother’s name is Dhanmaya. His brothers are named Kedar and Dharmananda while his only sister is Pabitra.
His father and second eldest brother Kedar are no more while his mother, youngest brother and sister were eagerly waiting for him at his native home.
Durga Prasad’s nickname is Deepak. At the age of 19, he had travelled to Manglabare in western part of Ilam district to sell locally produced mustard. Thereafter he set out for Darjeeling in India in prospects of employment.
During the 1980s, the Gurkhaland Movement was reaching a crescendo. Having heard nothing from Deepak, his family assumed that he might have died during the uprising.
Prakashchandra shared, “We assumed that he might have died in the uprising after there was not a word from him and about him. We came to learn about him being alive and doing his times in Indian prisons for the past 40 years through the Bengal Radio Club.”
In 2013, the family had received a letter send by Deepak Jaishi who had been claiming that he was Durga Prasad, but the family had a trust issue over the authenticity of the letter and thought that it was send by someone else to make the family puzzle. He identified himself as Deepak Jaishi in the correction home.
Jaishi's colleague Radheshyam Das from Medanipur of West Bengal was the person who first informed the public about the status and real identity of Durga Prasad. The family is thankful to Das and the Radio Club for their role in taking him out of the jail.
Durga Prasad had been accused of involving in the murder of the spouse of house owner in Darjeeling where he had been taking shelter. It is learnt that a false case was registered in the police against him and the 'victim family' did not follow up the case once. No trial was made and he was finally taken to the Dum Dum.
The family was informed about his condition with the help of Vishwa Sewa Vistar, an organisation that helps in the search of missing people. Organisation representative Indra Basnet had contacted with the Bengal Radio Club before talking to Prakash Chandra.
Durga Prasad's father had died when he was seven years old and mother Dhanamaya had lost one hand in the accident in the past.
He seemed tired upon arrival at Kakarvita due to his night travel in a bus and just exuded smile and spoke little with media. He was dressed in a white 'kamij' and gray trousers. As his brother said, they would reach home today itself.
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