56 under trial prisoners released in Nagaland

A total of 56 under trial prisoners (UTPs) from Central Jail and 10 district jails in Nagaland were released under the “campaign for the release of prisoners” by Under Trial Review Committees (UTRCs) to commemorate Indian Independence Day.
In a press release, PRA, Nagaland State Legal Services Auhtority (NSLSA), Ketholeno Neihu informed that the district level UTRC committees headed by district & sessions judge, with district magistrate, superintendent of police, secretary, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and officer in charge of prisons as members conducted 35 UTRC meetings during the period of July 16 to August 13.
Through this campaign, the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) along with the NSLSA and DLSAs identified prisoners eligible to be considered by UTRC and reviewed all eligible cases of prisoners during a series of meetings and recommended for release of such cases that the UTRC took up for consideration.
The DLSAs were directed to urgently file bail or appropriate applications through panel lawyers for all prisoners recommended for release by UTRC.
During the exercise, 147 UTPs in the state were recommended for release on bail by the committee and 56 UTPs were released on the recommendation of the UTRCs from the 11 prisons (1 Central Jail 10 district jails excluding Longleng).
Out of the UTPs released, 20 were from Mon district Jail, nine from Dimapur Central and district jail, seven from Wokha district Jail, five each from Kohima district jail and Longleng district (under Mokokchung district Jail, Longleng jail yet to function), four from Zunheboto, three Kiphire, two Tuensang and one from Mokokchung. No UTPs were discharged from Phek and Peren district jail after recommendation.
The campaign was launched on July 16 with formal launch of NALSA’s campaign release UTRC@75.
The UTRCs were released under 13 categories of cases which included UTPs/convicts falling covered under Section 436A CrPC; UTPs released on bail by the court, but have not been able to furnish sureties; UTPs accused of compoundable offences; UTPs eligible under Section 436 of CrPC; UTPs who may be covered under Section 3 of the Probation of Offenders Act, namely accused of offence under Sections 379, 380, 381, 404, 420 IPC or alleged to be an offence not more than 2 years imprisonment.
UTPs who have become eligible to be released on bail under some sections; UTPs who are imprisoned for offences which carry a maximum punishment of 2 years; UTPs who are detained under Chapter VIII of the CrPC 107, I 08. 109 and 151; sick or infirmed UTPs and require specialized medical treatment; women offenders; first time offenders between the ages 19-21 years and in custody with less than seven years of imprisonment; unsound mind and must be dealt with Chapter XXV of the code.