Even as people across the State are now celebrating the annual Dussehra festival, which symbolises the victory of good over evil, a new hope seems to have dawned in the district jail here that at least 55 inmates of the jail are likely to set free in the coming days.
It’s learnt that IG Jail PVK Prasad on Monday met with those prisoners and he was personally reviewing the cases. There is possibility that some of the inmates will be released very soon, sources in the know of the development said.
Notably, the prisoners had launched a silent protest from September 5, demanding the release of the convicts who have completed imprisonment of 14 years. Speaking to The Pioneer, Jail Superintendent SK Sukhija said, “We have sent a list of 55 prisoners who have completed 14 years of imprisonment. IG Jail Prasad has been talking to the convicts. Things would continue till late evening. Based on the inputs sent by us, the State Government would initiate the procedure for their release.”
It may be mentioned that currently the district jail is housing over a thousand convicts.
In a letter written to the jail authorities, the prisoners had complained that they were not yet released despite being spent over 14 years and more in the prisons. The unrest inside the jail continued for four days.
Around 84 prisoners refused to take meal on September 5 by way of articulating protest on the matter. The figure shot up to 127 the following day while 89 of them refrained from taking the morning meal on September 7. They ended the protest after being assured by the district administration the same evening.