While it is not clear if he is indeed innocent, many believe that Jan, a businessman, is a victim of a village feud.

Jan’s letters also provide details about his arrest. The main allegation against him was that he was carrying Rs 5 lakh, which the Delhi Police claimed as proof of his involvement in hawala transactions. “I had withdrawn the money from my own account CC 330 before I travelled to Delhi,” he claims. “I had taken a loan and the bank had already provided the papers about it. In fact, my family is still paying the installments”.

He also thanks the people of Bandipore for the affidavit vouching his innocence. “There are lots of other things that I may not be able to write. But please help me win this election. Please vote for me,” he writes.

“They (Jan’s sisters) tell us to help save their only brother. When they came to meet me, I was in tears after hearing their tragic story,” says Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat, a villager in Bandipore. “I will vote for him. If he wins, I will feel there is some value to my vote”.