Amaravati: 53 women prisoners released with riders

Amaravati: The state government set free 53 women prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment with conditions in a first-of-its-kind gesture on Friday. The state government invoked its executive powers in releasing the women to enable them to lead a normal life as they had also picked up some life skills during their imprisonment.

"The standing committee constituted under the chairmanship of the principal secretary to government and home department have reviewed the list of eligible female prisoners as per the state government guidelines," said an official. Later, the director general of prisons and correctional services sent the list of 53 eligible women for early release.

Of the 53 prisoners who were released, 19 were serving their sentence in the special prison for women in Rajahmundry, 27 in a similar facility in Kadapa, two in Visakhapatnam central prison and five in Nellore central prison.

"The AP government has ensured that these women can live a dignified life by releasing the female prisoners who have completed degrees while serving life sentences and others learnt tailoring, embroidery, baking and other skills," the official noted.

However, the government placed some conditions on the released women to ensure that they do not revert to a life of crime. All the 53 were made to execute a personal bond of Rs 50,000, and are also required to present themselves before a probation officer and respective police station every quarter, until the completion of the balance period of their sentences. In the event of any of them committing a crime again, they will be rearrested.

The government took the decision of releasing the eligible women prisoners some weeks ago and acted on it on Friday.