Mysuru: Based on good conduct on many counts, 17 prisoners who were serving life imprisonment in Mysuru Central Jail were released on December 13.
Among 18 prisoners who were recommended by the prison authority in Mysuru Central Jail for the release on good conduct, the government processed the release of 17 prisoners. The relatives and family members of the convicts who came to know of the release gathered in large numbers in front of the jail and eagerly waited for MLA Vasu to issue the certificates for the release during the programme organised inside the Mysuru Central Jail on Wednesday. The moment the convicts stepped out of the jail, their relatives were overcome with emotions and ran towards them and embraced them. The prison authorities had sent the names in July so that they could be released on the Independence Day but, due to a delay by the government, the prisoners had to wait for nearly four months.
Among 17 prisoners who were released on good conduct, 15 of them have served a sentence for more than 14 years while two of them for nearly 12 years. Members from the Prison Ministry of India, a national voluntary organisation who are into helping prisoners and their family members, helped 11 prisoners by way of paying the fine of Rs 57,500.
Most of the guests who spoke on the occasion including activist Nanjaraje Urs who works for the well being of the prisoners; Yogesh, Additional Deputy Commissioner; Stanley of Odanadi and Nayeema Sultana, President of Zilla Panchayat stressed on proper rehabilitation of the prisoners once they were released on good conduct. Nanjaraj Urs said, “When they are in jail, the government looks after the prisoners very well but once they are out, there is no one to look after them. They are not received properly by the society nor do they get jobs or loans to start business on their own. Hence the government should help these prisoners and rehabilitate them once they are released in these aspects. Apart from this, for the welfare of the prisoners after they go out from the jail, they should take home some money, for which they should deduct Rs 5 out of Rs 30 which is given as a wage. And for those prisoners who take wages of Rs 40 and Rs 50, the authorities should deduct Rs 10. It should be on the lines of PF deduction.”
MLA Vasu who also spoke on the occasion assured to help and rehabilitate the prisoners who are let out. “Those prisoners who are let out on good conduct and come under my constituency can come on December 14 itself and I will try to speak to the authorities concerned including Devaraj Urs Welfare Board, Valmiki Welfare Board and Pakka Mane scheme and try to get them loan so that they can take up business and lead a meaningful life. I will also speak to other MLAs in the district and do the needful to the prisoners who are let out on good conduct. All those who are here might not be guilty but due to lack of evidence might have been convicted.” He also mentioned that in 1985 for taking part in a protest, he too had served in Mysuru Central Jail for three days.
‘In a fit of rage, I slapped my wife who died on the spot’
The 45-year-old D Ravi Kumar who was released on good conduct said, “My wife used to frequently quarrel with me and even force me to have a separate house. I have five brothers and two sisters and we were in a joint family but my wife used to keep on pestering me for separate house. When we had been to a temple in Udupi, she started arguing and scolded me while we were in a room. In a fit of rage, I slapped her and she collapsed. In the last 12 years, I have learnt a lot of lessons in the prison and even completed my post graduation in political science. To start with, the jail didn’t have much facilities and ambience but over the yeas there are a lot of transformations. There are many innocents who are undergoing imprisonment for many years and their conduct is also good. My only request to the government is to make arrangements and even if needed amendments for their release so that their families can feel a sigh of relief and start leading a better life.” MLA Vasu assured to provide financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to Ravi who is settled in Mysuru but a native of Hassan district.
