After dark comes a new life for 108 freed convicts

BENGALURU: How does it feel to come out of a prison after 14 long years? Ask the lifers who were released from the Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara after remission and you will hear them say, "After the dark phase comes a new life to us." 

As many as 108 lifers, including 10 women, jailed at Mysuru, Belgavi, Kalburgi, Vijayapura, Ballari and Dharwad jails were released after remission on Wednesday. Fifty walked out of the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on Wednesday.

M.S. Narasimha Reddy, who was jailed in 2003 and has completed the life term, said that he committed the crime in a fit of rage. Reddy, who hails from Bagepalli taluk, told his fellow inmates in his farewell speech that he is a completely reformed man, thanks to jail officials. In the last 14 years, he did not mop around, but went about getting himself educated with gusto and now has three postgraduate degrees - in Journalism, Economics and History. 

Another lifer Bave Reddy, who walked free, said that he will take up farming and start feeding people. "I have repented enough for the mistake that took away 14 long years of my life. I was in the jail hospital, and will continue to serve people by feeding them as a farmer."

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who was present at the prison, said, "There are 15,476 prisoners in 100 jails in the state. Knowingly or unknowingly, people commit crimes in a fraction of a second in a fit of rage. We have taken all steps to reform these prisoners. We have trained them in tailoring, dairy farming, soap making, bakery and others, so that they can lead a life of dignity after coming out of prison."

Accepting that there is a shortage of staff in prisons across the state, he said that steps have been taken to fill the vacancies. "The government has initiated the process of appointing 786 wardens, 22 jailers and 1,811 staffers."

He said that the age-old practice of releasing lifers only on occasions like Independence Day and Republic Day will be done away with and inmates will be released immediately after the governor's nod.