GUWAHATI (India), July 24: An Indian court has freed a man who languished in jail or a mental home in the eastern state of Assam for 54 years without ever facing trial, police said on Sunday.

Machang Lalung, 77, was arrested in 1951 in his native village of Silsang, 64 kilometres from the state’s main city of Guwahati.

Police said records showed Lalung, a tribesman, was booked for “voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means,” an offence carrying a maximum 10-year prison term.

But they said there were no records backing up the accusation.

Soon after his arrest police shifted Lalung to a mental asylum. Though certified “fully recovered” by asylum authorities in 1967, prison officials only returned him to jail this year.

In May the National Human Rights Commission took up Lalung’s case and sought his release. He was freed last week after posting a token personal bond of one rupee.

Magistrate H.K. Sarma, who released Lalung, had harsh words for India’s notoriously slow-moving and inefficient legal system.

“This is a situation where neither the executive nor the judiciary can shirk or skip responsibility on technical grounds,” Sarma said.

“It is the question of life and liberty of a person who was in judicial custody for 54 years...and who was not brought before the court to face trial even long after his recovery from mental ill-health.”

After Lalung’s release, police escorted him back to his village.

“We handed him over to the village headman and don’t know about his family or other relatives,” said B. Das, a police official. “He has almost forgotten about his past and doesn’t remember anything about his village now.”—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Dangerous law
Updated 17 May, 2024

Dangerous law

It must remember that the same law can be weaponised against it one day, just as Peca was when the PTI took power.
Uncalled for pressure
17 May, 2024

Uncalled for pressure

THE recent press conferences by Senators Faisal Vawda and Talal Chaudhry, where they demanded evidence from judges...
KP tussle
17 May, 2024

KP tussle

THE growing war of words between KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi is affecting...
Dubai properties
Updated 16 May, 2024

Dubai properties

It is hoped that any investigation that is conducted will be fair and that no wrongdoing will be excused.
In good faith
16 May, 2024

In good faith

THE ‘P’ in PTI might as well stand for perplexing. After a constant yo-yoing around holding talks, the PTI has...
CTDs’ shortcomings
16 May, 2024

CTDs’ shortcomings

WHILE threats from terrorist groups need to be countered on the battlefield through military means, long-term ...