Coronavirus: State of Maharashtra to release 11,000 prisoners on Emergency Parole, initially for 45 days

The Home Ministry of the State of Maharashtra has decided to release prisoners so as to avoid spread of the virus in the prisons.

Arthur Road Jail

The office of the Home Minister of Maharashtra, Anil Deshmukh, has released a press note stating that prisoners would be released in order to avoid rapid spread of COVID-19 in the midst of the outbreak.

The press note states,

There are 45 prisons in Maharashtra, in which about 60,000 prisoners are imprisoned. This is a red flag and a potential flashpoint for rapid spread of COVID-19, as prisoners are living in congested space.

Press Note

Hence, it had been decided that approximately 11,000 prisoners will be released on Emergency Parole, initially for 45 days.

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Maharashtra Government

Prisons

COVID-19

Overcrowding in prisons