Balasore, Sept 30 (Odisha.in) “I will join my duty after taking rest for some days in home,” was the immediate reaction of innocent Binapani Mukhi after she was released from the Balasore district jail on Saturday evening.
“I heard about my release on Friday when jailer sir informed me the same. After hearing the news I suddenly bent my head and remembered almighty. I am very happy that finally I got justice,” Binapani, who used to work as a sweeper in the Jaleswar notified area council (NAC) office, told.
The 38-year-old woman of Panchughanta village under Jaleswar police station area has already spent six months in the jail without any fault of hers. She was in fact serving a two-year jail term for which she was wrongly convicted by a first track court of Jaleswar.
“When the lady policeman arrested me from the village market I pleaded about my innocence but she didn’t spare. She even beat me up and in the police station forcibly took my signature as Minati Mukhi,” she
said.
Binapani was arrested in March 8 in place of her sister-in-law Minati Mukhi, accused in an ‘excise case’ only because her nick name matched with the later’s name.
“I can’t forget these days I spent inside the jail. Always I was crying, even I have lost my mental balance. Whoever have come to the jail I pleaded about my innocence but it was all in vain till the media brothers highlighted about my plights,” thanking the newsmen she said.
An emotional scene created when Binapani was handed over to her husband Gourishanker inside the jail premises. Balasore jailer Arun Kumar Rath who released the woman said, “I got the high court order at about 3 pm and subsequently I released her. Her behaviour was good at jail and no complaint was against her.”
Meanwhile, Gourishankar has demanded compensation for his wife’s illegal detention. “I have demanded Rs 10 lakh as she was illegally convicted. I also want the woman cop should be dismissed from her service,” he said.
On Friday, hearing a PIL Orissa HC had directed jail authorities to release Binapani forthwith.
Odisha.in