92 prisoners from across Karnataka walk to freedom

Bengaluru: It was an emotional farewell to Veeranna, one of the popular prisoners of Bellary Central Prison Veeranna, who walked out of Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara on Wednesday. His brother Ajay, who had come along with his family, became emotional after seeing Veeranna walk out of the iron gate. With folded hands and tears rolling down his eyes Veeranna thanked prison officials wholeheartedly.

Veeranna was suffering from schizophrenia. Ranganath P., Superintendent of Police, Bellary Central Prison told Deccan Chronicle that he was lodged there since 2003, after he had committed a murder in a fit of rage. 

"He needed special care in the prison and once in every two months, he was brought to NIMHANS for treatment. He used to cry suddenly and behave weirdly all of a sudden," Ranganath said. 

"We had let him free and he always wanted to accompany our men at work. He used to follow our men at the jail and used to get relieved doing so. Even other prisoners too looked after him with great care and affection," Ranganath said, after he waved a goodbye to Veeranna and accepted a salute from him with a smile.  Ajay said he will set up a provision store for his brother at their village at Davangere. 

92 prisoners released

Ninety-two prisoners lodged at various prisons across the state were brought to the Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara and were set free after Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy issued  release letters to them. Addressing the prisoners, Mr Reddy said, “In a fit of rage people commit crimes and lament their whole life in jail for that mistake. But once they regret and reform they need not be kept in the prison.” 

Karnataka is the only state in the country to prematurely release prisoners for their good character. From 2015 we have released 1,255 prisoners prematurely, he said. 

Biometric phone kiosk

Prison department introduced three phone kiosks at Parappana Agrahara, where prisoners will be able to make calls to using biometrics to three numbers of their choice belonging to their family, friends and advocates.

Every prisoner (both undertrial and convicts) will be given chance of making calls up to 100 minutes every month with a limit of 9-minute call per day, after which the call will automatically get disconnected, said M. Somashekar, Chief Superintendent of Police (Prisons).

ACB doing their duty: HM

When asked about the revelation by former DIG H.N. Sathyanarayana Rao that he had provided cot, bed and pillow to AIADMK leader Sasikala Natrajan, jailed in Parappana Agrahara prison, on the advice of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Home Minister quipped that the prison officials had provisions to provide the same and he sees no irregularity in it.

And commenting on the ACB case against Mr Rao, he said they are doing their duty. Asked about the health of Sasikala, he said she is fine and requested not to believe in rumours being spread on social media. 

CM: No such instruction given

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters that the former DGP Rao had made false accusations against him because Anti-Corruption Bureau had filed a FIR against him in connection with a corruption case. Rao said that he had adhered to jail manual and provided a cot and a pillow. The Chief Minister said a delegation from Tamil Nadu had met him and complained that no basic amenities were being provided to Ms Sasikala and hence Rao was instructed to provide the same as per the jail manual. "I did not instruct any one to provide VVIP treatment to anyone. I was surprised to see Rao's statement," Mr Siddaramaiah said.