No more remission for terrorists

HYDERABAD: After getting flak for granting remission to a terror suspect, who directly helped the perpetrators of the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts, which claimed 18 lives and injured over 100, the Congress government seems to be treading cautiously. Now, persons involved in terror cases, mafia, organised crime will be ‘ineligible’ for remission.
In a recent government order (GO), the home department issued guidelines for granting remission on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi to convicted prisoners in the next few months.
The Congress government had attracted severe criticism for granting remission in 2009 to terror suspect Syed Maqbool, a convict in a murder case, as he later turned out to be one of the key conspirators in the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and was allegedly involved in various blasts conspiracies across the country, including the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts.
“Prisoners convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, special acts enacted for prevention of terrorism and mafia and other organised crimes, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, who had been sentenced to imprisonment for life, are not eligible,'' special chief secretary (Home) Prabhakar D Thomas said in the order. Maqbool and his associates were then granted remission by the state government despite a warning by prison officials to review his case thoroughly while taking a decision.
It appears that the guidelines were framed in view of the bitter experience the prison department had as they barred remission for prisoners who organised revolt in the prison or against prison administration. In 2011, undertrials at the erstwhile Pappagni barrack at Cherlapally central prison, which used to house terror suspects, accused in mafia cases and alleged ISI activists, created a riot-like situation and even attacked prison staff.
“Life convicts who are punished for any prison offence during the last three preceding years and/or those who are punished for any serious prison offence like revolt/organising revolt against the prison administration anytime during their entire period of stay in the prison are also not eligible,'' the officials said.
In the past, there were several instances of prisoners fleeing from the custody of jail staff or not reporting back after parole. So, such cases would not be considered.
The state government has appointed a six-member committee __ special chief secretary (Home) (chairman), law department secretary, director-general of police or his nominee, additional director-general of police (Intelligence), director-general of prisons and correctional services, chief legal adviser in CID __ would review the yet-to-be prepared list of eligible prisoners by jail authorities, before recommending them to the state government for final consideration.