20-Aug-2015
Chhandosree
TALE OF TWO BRITISH WOMEN IN INDIA
THE REFUGE: Rinpas in the state capital where Petuna Griffiths and
Terry Butler were sent from Gaya Central Jail, Bihar, in July
JHARKHAND : Two British nationals, both women in their 50s who spent several
months in a Bihar jail after their visa expired in the absence of help with
extension formalities, will soon be able to return home, thanks to Ranchi
Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Allied Sciences (Rinpas) that handled the
cases with the sensitivity they demand.
Petuna Griffiths (50), a resident of Cheshire in northwest England, and Terry
Butler (55) of Jamyang Buddhist Centre in London were allegedly thrown into
Gaya Cental Jail last year and barred from legal help because they could not
communicate their predicament to Hindi-speaking prison officials. In July this
year, they were sent to Rinpas with “psychological disorders”.
Married and divorced, Petuna says she is a pharmaceutical researcher and mother
of two children — Richard (14) and Zoe (11). Her former husband, Lee, is a
scientist with PhD in chemistry. Terry, on the other hand, is a devout Buddhist
who wants to return to her “monastery life” either in London or in Kathmandu,
Nepal.
Dr A.K. Nag, the medical superintendent of Rinpas, told The Telegraph that they
had contacted the British Deputy High Commission in Calcutta and the two
England citizens would soon return home.
“Terry has been formally released from jail. We received a letter from Gaya
prison authorities recently that puts her freedom date as August 11. We are
waiting for the deputy high commission to take her away any day now. Petuna
will also go home. We have fast-tracked her transit procedure, something the
jail should have done for both women long ago,” Nag said.
On how the two women were holding up, the doctor said, “They will do well with
medicines and moral support. Eight-nine months in jail for what seems an
inadvertent fault on their part can take a toll on mental health. But, Terry
has a history of schizophrenia and Petuna has delusional disorder; she doesn’t
trust people much. Both can be treated.”
When The Telegraph rang up the British Deputy High Commission on Wednesday
morning, an official said the cases had been brought to their notice. “Our
consular section has initiated the process to facilitate their return,” he
added.
While the ball has finally been set rolling to send the two British nationals
home, they have a lot to say about their stay in India, most of it spent in the
Bihar prison.
Do you think our Indian prisons need overhaul? Tell [email protected]
PETUNA’S STORY
I came to your country in July 2014 with a visa for three and a half months. I
stayed in Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) for three months and then applied for
visa extension online. As part of the procedure, I was asked to appear for a
personal interview in Shimla. There was no one to guide me on where the
interview was in Shimla. So, in October-end, I went to Bodh Gaya.
I toured the pilgrimage for sometime and then, with eight days (for expiry)
still in hand, decided to go to Delhi to find help with my visa. At Gaya
airport, I sought assistance from officials on flights to Delhi and during
conversation, shared my visa problem. They immediately detained me. They
detained me on airport premises for eight long days till my visa expired.
Later, I managed to speak to some monks who questioned my detention and also
helped me get in touch with the British Deputy High Commission in Calcutta, but
help didn’t come at that time. I was taken to a police lock-up, where I was
robbed of around Rs 3 lakh and the pearls I was wearing.
Next, judicial procedures began against me. In court, I was neither allowed to
explain my case nor did they wish to see my online application documents. Every
time, I spoke of my right to defence, I was taken to the lock-up and beaten up.
In November last year, I was sent to Gaya jail.
There, at the prison, no one spoke English. I don’t understand Hindi. It was
traumatic. Luck smiled on me when I was sent here (Rinpas). Here, doctors speak
to me in English. I have a clean and separate room to stay. Officials from the
deputy high commission came to meet me.
I am hopeful now.
TERRY’S STORY
I came to India two years ago and was staying with monks in Bodh Gaya.
One day, my belongings were stolen. They had my passport and other documents. I
went to police to lodge a complaint, but was thrown into jail instead.
I must have been in the Gaya prison for six-seven months. There, I was thrashed
several times for protesting against poor hygiene and sanitation. Later, I gave
up protesting.
The British embassy should have bailed me out of that horrible place, but I
think (Bihar) police didn’t get in touch with the embassy.
Now, I hear I have been freed. Thank God. I hope officials send me back to
London or to any monastery in Kathmandu.
(Terry couldn’t speak much because she has developed a hearing problem)
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150820/jsp/jharkhand/story_38078.jsp#.VdVkx7Kqqko
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