New Delhi, Jan. 14 -- Freedom came too late for Edilson Torres.

The police officer was buried Tuesday in his humble, rural hometown following his death in a Venezuelan prison, where he was held incommunicado since being detained in December on what his family said were politically motivated accusations.

Torres, 51, died of a heart attack Saturday, just as his family awaited the government's promised release of prisoners following the U.S. capture of then-President Nicolas Maduro. The loss left his family reeling.

Now scores of families - who once hesitated to approach advocacy groups - are coming forward to register their loved ones as "political prisoners" in the hope that they might have a more optimistic future than Torres.

Foro Pe...