The world's oldest known inmate at 108-years was released from an Indian prison based on humanitarian grounds recently. Brij Bihari Pandey, a Hindu priest, had been serving a life sentence for a quadruple murder in 1987. He was 84 at the time.
Gorakhpur prison officials said that his reoccurring health issues paved the way for his early release.
"It was getting difficult to take care of a 108-year-old prisoner," said jail Superintendent SK Sharma. "We moved an application for his release and the court accepted it."
In 1987, Bihari and 15 others killed four people over the appointment of a rival as chief priest of a Hindu temple. His trial lasted more than two decades. Ultimately, he was sentenced in 2009.
Bihari can barely hear and speaks in monosyllables. He could neither recognize his nephew's wife, Krishnawati, nor her son Avneesh. Avneesh along with two others completed the bail formalities and secured Bihari's release from jail.
Avneesh said Bihari had rice, pulses and vegetables on Saturday. But the old man had refused to eat when he reached home on Friday night.
"Baba (Bihari) still thinks he is in jail. At times he starts talking to the jailor and then suddenly says something to an imaginary jail doctor," said Avneesh. "His voice has also become unclear and almost inaudible. It seems old age and a tough jail life have led to memory loss."
He said the only solace is that at times Bihari is able to recognise his sister, Vandana. Avneesh was three when Bihari and 15 others killed four people on June 15, 1987. Because he is frail and unable to walk, he was carried from the jail to a relative's car. Bihari hugged fellow inmates, who placed a garland of flowers on him.
Prison officials said he received the garland with a broad smile and said: "God is great. Thank you.
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