Tihar Jail releases over 400 prisoners to decongest jails amid coronavirus pandemic

As country grapples with coronavirus pandemic, Tihar Jail officials on Saturday, March 28, anunced that about 356 prisoners were released on 45-day interim bail while 63 have been released on emergency parole of eight weeks, as a preventive measure against spread of deadly COVID-19. Earlier, Tihar Jail administration had anunced that it will release as many as 3000 prisoners to decongest prisons during pandemic to control its spread.

Supreme Court had asked all state governments on March 23 to release undertrial prisoners, who are facing charges attracting less than seven years imprisonment, to reduce overcrowding of jails amid ongoing coronavirus crisis.

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Following directive, Uttar Pradesh has decided to release 11,000 prisoners from in-state jails on parole. inmates of 71 prisons, who have served less than seven years, are being released on parole for eight weeks.

Earlier on Friday, Maharashtra government decided to release about 11,000 prisoners on emergency parole while  Punjab government also anunced release of 6,000 prisoners on parole. 

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Coronavirus in India

India has witnessed a swell in coronavirus cases as number of infected individuals surged to 909 with 19 deaths as on Saturday, March 28, while 79 cases have recovered and been discharged according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Maharashtra has reported highest number of infected cases with 180 people testing positive for COVID-19.  

Due to Indian government's timely intervention and introduction of preventive measures such as  nationwide lockdown, country's casualty figures and infected cases are much less as compared to or countries, despite being second-most populous country in world and more prone to spread of pandemic; though next three weeks are considered to be critical for India. While developed countries' death toll runs in thousands, India has reported a mer 19 deaths as on date.

(Im source - PTI)

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