Thiruvananthapuram: Prison department’s initiative to fight Covid-19 pandemic by granting emergency paroles 1,800 inmates and thus decongesting jails failed as 760 persons were arrested under Abkari Act for brewing illicit liquor between April 1 and 20.
The number is on the rise as excise and police officers continue to arrest more people under the Act each day. The activity of brewing illicit liquor skyrocketed after government closed liquor outlets during lockdown. If the persons arrested for other crimes are also added to this list, the total number of inmates at various prisons would become 881.
Prison DIG S Santhosh said that most persons, arrested under Abkari Act, belong to poor families and only a few could secure bail. "At present, conditions in prisons are safe. Our troubles will start in the first week of May when inmates granted parole and bail return," he said. Since the initial lockdown was to end in 21 days, inmates were granted an interim bail of 30 days. Of the 884 persons out on parole, 114 are on extension as they were already out when lockdown began. They will also be returning by the end of April, he added.
Santhosh said that to prevent overcrowding, fresh admissions are sent to jails that have less inmates. In normal circumstances, remand prisoners would be sent to prison that comes under the jurisdiction of the magistrate who remands the accused in judicial custody.
Prison department had taken steps to decongest jails following SC order on March 23 that considered the unprecedented circumstances that existed in India in the wake of Covid-19. Based on the order, the department prepared a list of over 1,600 inmates and they were released in the first week of lockdown. On April 10, state government issued another order stating that the number of inmates released was insufficient to ensure a safe environment in prisons. Following this, 200 more inmates were shortlisted and released by granting interim bails and emergency paroles.
Though Kerala was one of the first states to enforce social distancing before Centre declared a nationwide lockdown, its reluctance to close liquor outlets had invited criticism from various corners.
The number is on the rise as excise and police officers continue to arrest more people under the Act each day. The activity of brewing illicit liquor skyrocketed after government closed liquor outlets during lockdown. If the persons arrested for other crimes are also added to this list, the total number of inmates at various prisons would become 881.
Prison DIG S Santhosh said that most persons, arrested under Abkari Act, belong to poor families and only a few could secure bail. "At present, conditions in prisons are safe. Our troubles will start in the first week of May when inmates granted parole and bail return," he said. Since the initial lockdown was to end in 21 days, inmates were granted an interim bail of 30 days. Of the 884 persons out on parole, 114 are on extension as they were already out when lockdown began. They will also be returning by the end of April, he added.
Santhosh said that to prevent overcrowding, fresh admissions are sent to jails that have less inmates. In normal circumstances, remand prisoners would be sent to prison that comes under the jurisdiction of the magistrate who remands the accused in judicial custody.
Prison department had taken steps to decongest jails following SC order on March 23 that considered the unprecedented circumstances that existed in India in the wake of Covid-19. Based on the order, the department prepared a list of over 1,600 inmates and they were released in the first week of lockdown. On April 10, state government issued another order stating that the number of inmates released was insufficient to ensure a safe environment in prisons. Following this, 200 more inmates were shortlisted and released by granting interim bails and emergency paroles.
Though Kerala was one of the first states to enforce social distancing before Centre declared a nationwide lockdown, its reluctance to close liquor outlets had invited criticism from various corners.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Quick Links
Kerala Coronavirus Helpline NumberHaryana Coronavirus Helpline NumberUP Coronavirus Helpline NumberBareilly NewsBhopal NewsCoronavirus in DelhiCoronavirus in HyderabadCoronavirus in IndiaCoronavirus symptomsCoronavirusRajasthan Coronavirus Helpline NumberAditya ThackerayShiv SenaFire in MumbaiAP Coronavirus Helpline NumberArvind KejriwalJammu Kashmir Coronavirus Helpline NumberSrinagar encounter
Get the app