Hyderabad: Released prisoner alleges harassment
Sonu says he's being forced by cops to turn into informer.
Hyderabad: A prisoner released from the Chanchalguda Central Prison on March 6 has alleged that he is being forced to become an informer by cops of the Uppal, Medipally and Amberpet police stations.
Manoj Kumar Sonu, 36, says he is now a reformed individual thanks to the Mahaparivarthan Yojana, a scheme launched by prison officers during his three months in jail.
Sonu was jailed for the first time in 1999 after a burglary. He was subsequently jailed five times for burglary. “I have learnt to read and write and decided to change because I lost everything. I lost my wife who was pregnant. All my associates pretended to be friends for money. I have decided to live like a normal man and work for a living,” he said.
He got employment at a men’s hostel after release from prison last month, but allegedly lost the job due to police interference. “Cops want me to be an informer. They would regularly visit the hostel and my house. But as had been counselled by the jail authorities to approach them when in need, I met them and explained the matter,” he said.
Prisons DG V.K. Singh said many of those freed from jails on good conduct faced similar problems. “I am personally contacting police officials and explaining about prisoners who have changed. I am telling the police not to trouble them,” he said.
Mr Singh wrote two months back to all SPs and police commissioners across the state on this matter along with a list of persons released from jails.
The lists contained names of 116 prisoners in Cyberabad, 36 in Hyderabad, 11 in Warangal, 13 in Medak, three each in Adilabad and Ranga Reddy districts, two in Mahbubnagar and one each in Karimnagar and Nalgonda districts.
Mr Singh said, “Most of those released on good conduct are unable to get jobs. They have a criminal background. We are providing jobs to such persons in our petrol bunk. Very soon they will be recruited in prison-run industrial units.”
Sonu was thus employed in the prisons department-run petrol bunk at Chanchalguda.