Hyderabad: “Serving my jail sentence changed my life, says a happy ex-convict who was given life imprisonment for murder by the metropolitan sessions judge II, Nampally court. Pradip D, a native of Tripura, served seven years in the Chanchalguda Central Jail, and was later acquitted in 2016. One year later, Pradeep is working in the billing section of the prison run-petrol bunk while he saves up to pay for music classes.
The fate of Pradip, who was then working as a waiter in Mainland China, Banjara Hills, changed when a silent night ended with another friend, later identified as Deep, being bludgeoned with a stone in a fit of rage. Pradip and some of his friends started the night with drinking alcohol, but it was around midnight when a drunken brawl began. Pradip at the time, was angry following an argument and he, along with two friends, Sanjeev and Dinesh, got into a fight. The scuffle escalated to a level where it was not known who had hit Deep with the stone.
Next morning, Pradip went to work as scheduled, unaware that Deep had died at the hospital. Around 10am, while at work, the police entered Mainland China and grilled him regarding the night. “I felt shock and shame as I learnt about Deep and was being charged with murder. I was arrested at my place of work and taken for processing. At the time of the arrest, it was not possible for me to furnish documents proving my age and hence I was not placed in the Juvenile section of the jail, though I was a minor,” he said.
Pradip upon entering the jail describes himself as lost and terrified.
Pradip luckily was able to strike a connection with Narsimha, Inspector General Prisons and Saidaiah, Deputy Inspector General. He claims often, they would visit the prisoners and be very helpful.
Pradip’s first job inside the jail was to work as a tailor. While working at this job, he would often pass the desk of the factory incharge who would be working on a computer. Intrigued, Pradip took it to learn how to operate the computer. He began to spend his leisure time in learning to type with the permission of the jailer. In time, his interest grew and he requested to begin studying. Pradip had no idea he would one day hold a bachelor’s degree.
Pradip was released on April 26, 2016 from the Chanchalguda Central Jail. Pradip immediately returned home to meet his family. Pradip says, “ My parents were heartbroken when I went to jail. I had let down my name and my family’s name. My mother’s eyes filled with pride when she came to know I was released early, and when I told her I had actually, completed my Bachelors and had a job waiting for me on the outside.”
