A BLACKBURN grandma held in India on drugs charges has been cleared for a second time -- but still cannot come home after her passport was confiscated.

Despite Amina Mitha, 70, being found not guilty again, her husband Ismail, 69, had his conviction upheld and must serve the remaining two years of an 11-year sentence.

Stephen Jakobi, director of international pressure group Fair Trials Abroad, today called on the British government to "pull its finger out" and free husband and wife.He claimed the Mithas, whose family live in Pleckgate, Whalley Range and Revidge, were targeted because they are Muslims and the police in Gujarat are Hindus.

The couple, who are British citizens but spent a lot of time in India caring for a disabled relative, were charged in 1995 after police claimed to find cannabis in 12 places.

It took five years for the trial to take place. Mr Mitha was cleared of having the drug in 11 of the places, but was convicted of having one kilo of cannabis under a mattress. Mrs Mitha was cleared of all charges, but could not leave the country because the prosecution appealed.

Mr Mitha, meanwhile, is seriously ill with heart trouble and his family fear he will die in jail.

Mr Jakobi said: "It would be unhelpful for Mr Mitha to appeal again as it would take longer than his remaining time in jail. There must be a push to get him out on humanitarian grounds.

"That the elderly lady is still out there is just plain wrong. The government should be able to sort her passport out fairly quickly."

But Mr Straw said: "It frustrates me that Mr Jakobi has said this when we are doing all we can to resolve the matter.

"Our file on the case is inches thick and we are in regular contact with the authorities in India and also Mr Mitha's family."