India's former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was freed from New Delhi's Tihar Jail on Tuesday night (26 December) after spending just one week in prison for breach of privilege and contempt of parliament. Mrs. Gandhi's jailing led to violent rioting throughout the country during which at least 19 people were killed and more than 100,000 arrested.

SYNOPSIS: The mass arrests in India were part of a campaign by Mrs. Gandhi's wing of the Congress Party launched to "fill the jails". But on Tuesday night (26 December) the prison gates opened for Mrs. Gandhi, less than two hours after the lower house parliament formally discontinued its session, the deadline set by parliament for Mrs. Gandhi's stay in jail. At the gates Mrs. Gandhi was mobbed by a huge crowd of cheering and dancing supporters.

Mrs. Gandhi told her cheering supporters that she would fight for another parliamentary seat. She was expelled as a member of parliament following her arrest. She also questioned the ability of the ruling Janata party to govern India. The former premier said she was not bitter about her jailing but that she had a very restful time.