109 undertrials released in Nagaland

Kohima: A total of 109 undertrial prisoners have been released from different correctional homes in Nagaland on interim bail in keeping with the Supreme Court's directions to consider decongesting the jails in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Friday.

Following the apex court's direction, a committee was formed and the interim bail and parole were granted based on its recommendation, they said.

The committee comprised of Nagaland State Legal Services Authority's Executive Chairman Justice S Serto, Principal Secretary (Home) Abhijit Sinha and Additional Director General (Prison) Renchamo P Kikon.

The undertrial prisoners were released from 11 jails across the state.

The jails in the state have a capacity to accommodate 1,450 prisoners and housed 537 people before the undertrials were released, according to officials.

The committee directed that if any undertrial who has been released threatens any witness or any person acquainted with the facts of the case or to the victim of the case, he shall be taken into custody immediately.

Besides, it also directed the jail authorities to maintain social distancing inside the prisons.

PTI