Jharkhand to release 221 prisoners serving life term

Ranchi, April 9 (IANS) The Jharkhand government on Monday decided to release 221 prisoners who have been serving life term and had spent more than 20 years in jail, said an official.

The decision was taken during a meeting of a review committee headed by Chief Minister Raghubar Das.

"Injustice should not be done to anyone. The tribals are simple in nature... They sometimes commit crime unconsciously and later surrender by themselves. Such people who have spent 20 years in jail with good conduct should be released," said the Chief Minister while reviewing the sentences of the 233 prisoners.

He said the prisoners should get a chance to start a new life.

"The administration should keep an eye on convicts out on bail and who are active in criminal activities," Das said.

Cases of 233 prisoners serving life imprisonment were reviewed, of whom 221 will be freed, the meeting decided. The remaining 12 cases will be taken up in the next meeting.

All the prisoners have completed an average sentence of 23 years.

Out of 221, 104 prisoners were Dalits and three were women.

One hundred prisoners will be released from the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi, 54 from the Hazaribagh Central Jail and the rest from other jails.

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