6,500 prisoners released from MP jails since COVID-19 outbreak

Bhopal, May 17 () Nearly 6,500 prisoners have beenreleased from jails in Madhya Pradesh since the coronavirusoutbreak, an official said on Sunday.

Of these prisoners, as many as 3,900 have been grantedparole while 2,600 have been released on interim bail bycourts for a stipulated period, state prisons Deputy InspectorGeneral Sanjay Pandey told .

"We have complied with the Supreme Court'sdirectives," he said.

The state has around 131 jails, of which more than 75per cent were overcrowded, another official said.

The jails in the state altogether have the capacity tolodge 28,500 prisoners. Following the release of 6,500prisoners, there are still nearly 39,000 inmates in the jails,the official said.

The released prisoners were initially granted parolefor 60 days and interim bail for 45 days.

"Our jails are overcrowded. We have extended theparole for another 60 days, while courts have extended theinterim bail of the prisoners for another 45 days," theofficial said.

Quoting a report, the official claimed Madhya Pradeshin on top in the country in the release of prisoners on paroleduring the lockdown, while Uttar Pradesh has released thehighest number of inmates on interim bail.

The Supreme Court in March directed all states andUnion Territories to constitute high-level committees toconsider releasing on parole or interim bail prisoners andundertrials for offences entailing up to seven-year jail termto decongest prisons in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

The top court had said overcrowding of prisons is amatter of serious concern, particularly in the present contextof COVID-19. LALGK GK