Hyderabad: 251 prisoners freed

Hyderabad: As many as 251 prisoners, including life convicts, were prematurely released from prisons across Telangana on Tuesday.

On the occasion of Republic Day on January 26, the Telangana government had decided to release the prisoners before completing their term. The Home department had released a Government Order on Monday asking to release these prisoners.

Officials said that the prisoners were selected by a committee, who had closely studied their conduct. Earlier, home minister Nayini Narasimha Reddy had said that the government had formed a review committee and had decided to release the prisoners, after which officials of the Prisons department had submitted a list of prisoners with a draft of guidelines. According to officials from Cherlapally Central prison, 39 people from open jail and 48 from central prison were released on Tuesday.

“Twenty four of them are life convicts who were imprisoned for murder and other grievous offences. They had completed more than seven years in prison. Some had completed 10 years. They had maintained good behaviour consistently. Thus they were selected for premature release,” said a senior official from Cherlapally prison.

According to officials, 26 women prisoners were also released from the women’s prison on Tuesday. As per the government order, all prisoners released prematurely will have to pay a personal bond of Rs 50,000.

They will also have to appear before their probation officials once in six months for two years, according to the order. The remission will be cancelled if the person commits any offence during this period.