BENGALURU: While one prisoner said that now he wants to take good care of his 105-year-old mother, another told the authorities that his friends too have reformed and requested them to release them too at the earliest.
The prison inmates, who walked out of the Parappana Agrahara central prison on the occasion of Republic Day, were happy that they were being released. At the same time, they were equally upset that their fellow inmates, who had completed the term and had observed good conduct, were not released.
“We have shared our joys and sorrows together for more than 15 years. We were hopeful that we will be released together this time. When I learnt that I will be released but they won’t be, I was both happy and shocked. It’s hard to say goodbye to them and I walking out alone. Their release was cancelled on some grounds. At least, the government should consider them for release during Independence Day,” said Yogesh, who walked out of the jail on Thursday evening.
Another life convict, Teacher Ramachandrappa said, “Once I got into jail, I was not the only one who suffered. Outside, my family had to suffer a lot after I was arrested. They were humiliated for years. My sons had to discontinue education. It was not an easy life for them. Luckily, my sons have got good education later.”
“We were six brothers and all got arrested in a case related to murder during riots. One passed away while in prison. Once, I had gone out on parole. My mother had told me that until we are released, she would stay alive. Now, she is 105 years old and I am happy that we can be with her,” said a teary eyed Ramachandrappa, who was awarded Best Teacher award by the government while he was working.
While serving sentence, he pursued MA in Economics through distance education. Now 59-year-old Ramachandrappa, is planning to conduct tuition and lead a happy life.
The prison department had this time recommended names of 240 lifers for premature release, based on their good conduct. But the Advisory Board, that approves the list, gave nod for only 144 convicts.
Accordingly, 61 inmates were released from Benglauru Central Prison. Seventeen prisoner, including a woman, were released from Hindalaga prison in Belagavi, 23 from Mysuru central jail, 18 from Kalaburuagi jail, 16 from Vijayapura jail and nine from Ballari jail.
Dr. G assures wage hike
Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar, who issued release certificates to the convicts, said that the government is willing to hike the wages of prisoners. “The wages being paid currently is meagre and I have asked the prison department to send a proposal. The government is ready to increase the wages.”
Further, he said that totally 1,055 lifers were released in the state after the Supreme Court, which on July 23, 2015 restored to State governments their discretion to grant liberty to life convicts, subject to conditions laid down by the court, after it lifted its two-year-old ban. “We are also trying to improve the conditions in the jail by providing more staff and facilities,” he added.
The convicts, who were released, enacted a skit during the event, on how their lives changed after coming to jails. It is learnt that Peacemakers, the NGO that conducts ‘Roopantara’ camps to train lifers who would be prematurely released to adjust to the outside world, had trained a set of lifers, who were expected to be released, to enact the skit. But just a day before, it learnt that those who were supposed to take part in the skit will not be released. On Thursday morning, they trained another set of prisoners, who were eligible for release, and they managed to pull it off.
