Incensed over the growing incidents of violence behind bars, the Nitish Kumar regime in Bihar has devised a novel method to facilitate release of pent up emotions of prisoners.

The state government has decided to ask the jail inmates to pad up and participate in friendly cricket matches organised inside the jail premises.

“Cricket is everyone’s favourite sport, so we decided to use the game as a tool to divert the attention of prisoners,” said IG (Prisons) Sandeep Paundrik.  He had recently tried the experiment at Samastipur Jail where a match was organised between the two teams of prisoners.

“Gradually, such matches will be organised in all the jails of Bihar,” the IG said, and hastened to add, “Practice sessions in Gaya Jail have begun after cricket kits were provided by the Prisons Department.” Admitting that the whole exercise was aimed at promoting sports among the prisoners who otherwise indulge in violence, Paundrik said, “Later, football and volleyball tournaments will also be organised among the players of different prisons. But this will be done only in the jails which have playgrounds.”

Apart from this, the Government is also mulling over the proposal to hold yoga and meditation camps within the jail premises, which would serve as stress-buster.

Taking a benevolent view of the children of female prisoners who stay with their mothers in various jails, the IG has proposed that swings and slides be set up within the jail.

“This will be a gift to the tiny tots who have to live with their mothers and unnecessarily suffer,” said Paundrik, adding that he had written to the government to allow such children to be taken to zoos or parks at least once every month.