Chennai: “No one goes in search of trouble. It knocks at the door. But what prison life has taught me is to avoid such problems and stay away from trouble,” said T. Damodaran (48), who was released from Puzhal prison on Tuesday after 16 years.
Damodaran is one among 52 lifers released from Puzhal prison on Tuesday after the state government ordered to release eligible life convicts on the occasion of birth centenary of former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran. The prison department had already released 67 convicts on June 6 and the officials said that more prisons would be set free once the orders issued.
Damodaran also said that prisons are providing opportunities for education apart from conducting vocational training classes. “Although the opportunities are provided inside prisons, life with the family is more important and I am happy to have one after 16 years,” he added.
Among the released 52 prisoners, 44 are from Puzhal prison-1 and 8 are from the special prison for women. The prison officials also had distributed iron box, sewing machine, idly vessels, carpenter and barber kits to the released prisoners so that they may lead a dignified life outside the prison.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the released prisoners would be under the scanner of the police for three years to prevent the released inmates from committing a crime again. “We have readied 3 wet batter grinders each with 3,000-litre capacity, push carts and other big equipment. Due to some constraints, we could not able to distribute them. We will give the equipment to the released prisoners in a special function,” DIG (Prisons) A. Murugesan said.
Meanwhile, V. Sundari (57), who had completed 11 years in the prison, had no words to express her feelings and took her time to let go of her of tears of joy and said she was lucky to join her family again.
