Kohima, Apr 10 (UNI) A total of 109 Under Trial Prisoners (UTPs) in Nagaland have been released for interim period on parole, as per the direction of the Supreme Court to decongest the prisons in the wake of Corona Virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to a press release issued by the Nagaland State Legal Service Authority (NSLSA) said that the state has the capacity to accommodate 1450 prisoners, however, at present inclusive of both UTPs and the convicts there were 537, out of which 12 were female. It was provided that in both the above cases, the UTP is in custody for a period of one month or more, and in case of women UTP, 15 days or more. However, inmates undergoing trial for recovery of narcotic drugs under NPDS Act; those facing trial under Section 4 & amp; 6 of POCSO Act; those facing trial for offences under Section 376, 376(A), 376B, 376C, 376D and 376E and acid attack; UTPs who are foreign nationals; and UTPs facing trial under Prevention of Corruption Act and Cases investigated by CBI/ED/NIA/Special Cell Police and Terror related cases, cases under Anti-National Activities and Unlawful Activities (Prevention Act) NSA detenees were excluded for getting interim bail.
It informed that earlier the State Government had constituted a High Power Committee (HPC) headed by Justice S Serto, & Executive Chairman, NSLSA on March 30 last in compliance with the direction. Other members included Nagaland Principal Secretary (Home) Abhijit Sinha and, ADG (Prison) Renchamo P Kikon as members. The HPC, under the direction of its Executive Chairman, collected the lists of UTPs and convicts from all the Jails of Nagaland, the release said.