Agra: Thirteen inmates, who spent between 14 and 20 years each in prison despite a teenager during a crime, walked out of prison on Monday night at Uttar Pradesh, a few days after the Supreme Court gave them “guarantees” to them.
, Some convicted Toi spoke to demean “their childhood loss”, but said they hoped to rebuild their lives.
Others are uncertain if they can leave their “polluted past”.
Aadil Khan, who was 16 years old when he was sent to prison with his father Dilshad in 2000, said he did not take teen defense because he did not know the law of teenagers.
“I dropped out of school early and didn’t know much.
In prison, there were criminals toughened around.
I was young and it was a mental torture for me to spend years with them.
But my father’s presence in prison somewhat protected me,” he said.
Khan, now 37, said he hoped to start the next chapter in his life.
“I lost my best years.
I often dream of what I will do if I get out of prison.
Maybe, I will take the farm,” he said.
Another 16-year-old prisoner in Agra Central Jail which was given guarantees was Waliuddin (who only used his first name).
Willing to be prison since August 2009, Waliuddin walked out on Monday, gripping a valuable photo of his mother.
“It’s a picture that gives me the power to face my situation.
My family is poor and they can visit me just a few times in years,” Waliuddin said, now 28.
“I want to put the past behind me,” he added.
Teju Singh, 40, has learned some stitching work in prison.
“I have to live with a polluted name, but I hope to get a viable life with my new skills,” said Singh, who was ordered in a murder case in 1998 when he was 16 years old since 2009.
For Shahidul Hassan, “New Home” mean Being a father for his two children, he had seen after 12 years.
“I have a 2 year old son and a 3 month old daughter when I was placed behind bars,” Hassan said, a resident of Bulandshahr.
Hassan was ordered for murder in 1999 when he was 15 years old.
He was corrugated in 2001 but was sentenced and sent to prison a few years later in 2009.
Hassan was jailed together with his brother Shahid, who was only 13 years old when committing a crime.
“Without legal assistance, I will spend the rest of my life in prison,” Shahid said.