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Over 3000 Tihar Inmates ‘Missing’ After Being Released Last Year On Parole To Decongest Prison

Though as many as 2,200 prisoners have returned, 3,300 undertrial prisoners are yet to turn themselves in.

According to an India Today report, Tihar Jail authorities have sought the help of Delhi Police to track down 112 convicts who have failed to turn themselves in.

The courts had directed prison authorities last year to release at least 1,184 convicts on emergency parole to decongest the prison in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. Majority of these inmates belonged to Tihar, Mandoli or Rohini jails.

1,072 of these convicts have either surrendered or completed their sentences, officials have now confirmed as per the India Today report.

However, 112 convicts are yet to surrender. In a bid to track them down, their names and details have been shared with the Delhi Police by the prison authorities.

A total of 5,556 undertrial prisoners were similarly released from the Tihar Jail in Delhi on emergency parole last year. Though as many as 2,200 prisoners have returned, 3,300 undertrial prisoners are yet to turn themselves in.

A list of undertrial prisoners, who have not surrendered, has also been shared with the Delhi Police.

Officials also informed that some undertrial prisoners are in the process of turning themselves in while others might have obtained regular bails from the courts. One official added that this is being ascertained.

As per the report, most of these convicts and undertrial prisoners suffer from illnesses such as HIV, cancer, kidney dysfunction, asthma or Tuberculosis.

Tohar jail in Delhi, with a cumulative capacity to hold more than 10,000 inmates, is one of the largest prison complexes in South Asia.

To lay down criteria for the release of convicted and undertrial prisoners to decongest jails, high-powered committees were set up by the state governments.

The decision was taken in accordance with a suggestion by the Supreme Court in March last year.

 

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