A glimpse from behind the bars

THIS year8217;s Dussehra is going to be special for these 12 women inmates of the Special Jail, Bhubaneswar.

Behind bars for several years, Dussehra had always been like any other day for these women. But this year, it8217;s going to be different, thanks to the ongoing jail reforms. Tomorrow, on Bijaya Dashmi, for the first time in several years, they will get a glimpse of the Durga Puja festival in the city. These women inmates, along with 15 of their male counterparts, will be allowed to visit pandals in the city. Ever since Additional DGP G.K. Das, who is also Director Prisons, approved a proposal to allow them to have darshan, the 12 women inmates have been looking forward to their visit. Last year, only some male inmates were allowed to take part in the festival.

According to Jail SP Basant Kumar Ojha, the inmates will first go to the Nayapalli mandap where they8217;ll offer puja. From there, they will go to Unit II mandap. Inmates of the Khurda Sub-Jail will join them there. As a goodwill gesture during the festival, 45 inmates of the Special Jail have been granted furlough to visit families during Dussehra.

The furlough has been granted on the basis of the inmates8217; conduct and on the assurance that they will not jump the temporary release.