State government released six convicts serving their sentence at different jails on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on Tuesday.
The convicts were released after a committee constituted by the home department to examine cases of “eligible convicts” held in various jails of Nagaland for special remission, as per guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, submitted its report.
A release order issued by home commissioner R Ramakrishnan stated that the six convicts were released to commemorate the ensuing 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi so as to befit the occasion and pay homage to Father of the Nation for the humanitarian values he stood for.
The order stated that the government decided to grant special remission to certain “categories of prisoners” who had consistently maintained all good conduct during their terms in the prison. It also stated that the prisoners had already spent more than 66% of the sentence period.
The released convicts include three prisoners from Dimapur central jail – Vekhozo, son of late Veshto of Chozuba village in Phek district, Pranab Dutta alias Papu alias Rahul, son of late Phulan Dutta and Mamumkhubo, son of Sanatum.
Similarly, two prisoners were released from Kiphire district jail – Longti Sangtam, son of Tsisete Sangtam and Seyuba Sangtam, son of late Chorikyu. Dilip Orang, son of Mongro Orang, was also released from Dimapur district jail.
Meanwhile, a short programme was organised at central jail here to celebrate the 149th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Tuesday where additional inspector general (AIG) prisons Imtiangshi Ao spoke briefly about the contributions of Father of the Nation.
The AIG informed the gathering that more eligible prisoners would be released in two phases – the second phase on 10 April, 2019 to commemorate the anniversary of Champaran Satyagraha and the third phase on October 2, 2019 to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He encouraged the released prisoners to start living exemplary life of Gandhi as they step out from the prison.
The released prisoners were also handed over biographies of Mahatma Gandhi by central jail’s assistant jailor Zubemo Ovung.
The programme was chaired by central jail’s jailor Dr Oben Yathna and vote of thanks was delivered by central jail’s assistant jailor David Thirah.