Jhansi: There are finally some glimpses of hope after a two-decade nightmare for Vishnu Tiwari, who recently returned to his ramshackle home in Lalitpur district after being set free by Allahabad high court and serving 20 years in jail.
Tiwari, who was wrongly convicted for rape and under SC/ST Act, lost his parents while he was in jail and has been finding it difficult to survive without a livelihood.
Vishnu’s home is a ramshackle hut with a tarpaulin overhead for roof. With no work and food to eat, he was clueless and apprehensive about his life.
As the news of his hardships spread, local administration, officials, individuals and organisations are extending a helping hand to him.
SP Lalitpur Pramod Kumar and CDO AK Pandey went to meet him on Sunday and gave him ration and some household items.
SP Lalitpur said, “He has a long life ahead and is mentally and physically sound. We are trying to get some work for him under government schemes for his sustenance.”
The CDO told TOI, “We will accommodate him in government schemes like MNREGS as per his suitability.”
Recently some volunteers led by Congress leader Rahu Richariya pooled some money for Tiwari and are trying to arrange some job for him.
Tiwari was just 23 when on September 16, 2000 a scheduled caste woman of Silawan village under Mehroni police station of Lalitpur district had accused him of raping her.
He was subsequently booked under Sections 376, 506 of IPC and Sections 3(1)(xii), 3(2)(v) of SC/ST Act.
He was convicted by the sessions court and sentenced to life imprisonment under SC/ST Act and 10 years for rape in 2003 and shifted to Agra jail from where he was recently set free.
Vishnu appealed against the verdict in Allahabad High Court in 2005, but the case remained defective for 16 years and could not be heard. In the meanwhile, he lost his parents and two brothers but did not even get bail to attend their funeral.
More than a week after being set free after a long ordeal of 20 years, Vishnu is still edgy about his future. The help and compassion of officials and people is enabling him to gather courage to face the challenges that lie ahead for him.