Ryan case: Locals see Ashok's bail as victory

GURUGRAM: Lodged in jail ever since September 8, the day when Pradyuman was murdered brutally, a 42-year-old bus conductor Ashok Kumar was finally able to obtain bail in spite of various hurdles. Even though he earned only Rs 6,000 the amount was significant for running his house that included an ailing father and two young children, one of who is co-incidentally of Pradyuman's age.

However, it is not only the household of Ashok that has heaved a sigh of relief but his entire village who supported him even at the time when most of the people had pronounced his guilty of the heinous crime.

In a society where social ostracisation is still being followed by the village elders, the community decided to go against the move at a time when entire fraternity of lawyers from Sohna to Gurugram refused to fight case for the bus conductor.

Ultimately his case was fought by Mohit Verma who is a lawyer from Rohtak. Moreover, there are reports that the residents of village in Sohna also pooled in money to support the family facing various financial crisis.

Even though bail to Ashok proved to be victory of sorts for the belief of the village in him, there is still a long struggle ahead. The Central Bureau of Investigation in its affidavit has outlined very categorically that have not let the bus conductor off the hook.

Not understanding the technicalities of law, Ami Chand the father of Ashok expressed satisfaction over Tuesday's outcome. "I am happy that my son will soon be released and will be back home. He has gone through a lot of sufferings. I want to again reiterate that my son is innocent. He was tortured and beaten mercilessly to extract his confession. I will request that the court must free him soon as he has to take care of the family," said Ami Chand, Ashok's father.