BELAGAVI: It was celebration time at Hindalga Central Prison in Belagavi on Tuesday as 114 prisoners, including five women, became free after spending more than a decade inside the jail.
They were freed by the government for their 'good conduct' on the occasion of Republic Day.
All the arrested had completed more than 10 years in jail and the authorities had recommended for their release. Among those released, 63 inmates had completed life imprisonment of 14 years, while 51 had completed 10 years of jail term.
District in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi issued certificates of release to them at a programme in prison to mark Republic Day. According to jail authorities, 90 per cent of the prisoners released on Tuesday were jailed for committing murders and 10 per cent for incidents relating to attacks over property disputes and illicit relationships.
A committee headed by Principal District and Sessions Judge, Deputy Commissioner and several other noted personalities, including former mayors Siddangouda Patil and Vijay More, had recommended the government for release of 127 prisoners based on their conduct in the past few years.
The committee found that the inmates selected by them would be able to lead a crime-free life outside the jail.
While addressing the freed prisoners Mr Jarkiholi said that cases of 13 others had to be rejected by the government due to technical reasons. He assured them that they would be released in future during some special occasion.
