Prison release list pared down, 284 to walk free tomorrow

As many as 284 convicts will be released from various prisons in the state on Monday.

Though the state Cabinet had approved the release of 320 prisoners on August 10, the state Prisons Advisory Board objected to the release of certain prisoners. 

Of the 284 convicts, 236 are males and 48 women. The men have completed 14 years of imprisonment, while the women have served jail term for 10 years.

As many as 99 men and 21 women prisoners will be released from the Central Prison in Bengaluru. Likewise, 24 men and two women from Ballari; eight men from Dharwad; 35 men and 17 women from Mysuru; 12 men and four women from Vijayapura; 33 men and two women from Belagavi; and 25 men and two women from Kalaburgi prison, will be released.

Goodwill gesture
Two NGOs that have been working with the Prisons department, are in the process of raising funds to help prisoners pay their fines at the time of release.

While Prison Ministry India, an NGO, has raised around Rs 80,000 so far, Peacemakers is in the process of raising Rs 1 lakh for this purpose.

Director General of Police (Prisons) H N Sathyanarayana Rao too has made a contribution of Rs 10,000. “This time, there is a crisis. Many of the prisoners are not in a position to pay their fine. Not just me, superintendents of some prisons too have made contributions,” he told Deccan Herald.

Sister Adele, Bengaluru Unit Coordinator, Prison Ministry India said that one prisoner, who is scheduled to be released, has to pay a fine amount of Rs 1 lakh. Last year, the NGO had raised Rs 2.25 lakh for this cause.

Peacemakers is raising money for the 21 women prisoners (Central Prison) who have been shortlisted for release. The NGO is also trying to mobilise funds to help rehabilitate the women.

If the prisoners do not pay their fine amount, which varies from one prisoner to another, they will not get their release orders. Every prisoner has to pay a fine as part of their sentence at the time of release.