Jail inmates excel in Board exams

LUCKNOW: A murder, a dowry death accused and an accused of fake currency racket have brought smiles for their family members back home just by their will to outshine others. And they did it in style. All of them have been behind the bars facing charges of heinous crimes against them and yet went on pass the Intermediate examinations with flying colours.
A total of 193 jail inmates appeared in the intermediate examinations of UP Board throughout the state.While three of the inmates in three jail ranges of Uttar Pradesh scored first division, the one from Varanasi not only brought cheers at home but also gave jail authorities opportunity to boast off his achievement.
Shashi Bhan Singh, an undertrial of dowry death case presently lodged in Varanasi district jail has achieved 73 per cent marks, DIG jails, Allahabad range, V K Jain said and added that his total score stood at 365 marks out of 500.
Not lagging behind is Prem Chandra Pal, also lodged in Varanasi jail. A murder accused, Pal got 321 marks out of 500, Jain added. Imran Ali lodged in Banda jail got good second division with 276 marks out of 500.One of the inmates Sunil Kumar Jaiswal lodged in Mirzapur jail in dowry death case failed to clear examinations, the DIG said and added that he remained absent in one paper, else, he had scored 232 marks.
In West UP, Vijay Kumar, who is accused of supplying fake currency and presently lodged in Saharanpur jail, got 299 marks out of possible 500. In Lucknow division, out of the seven inmates, six passed with second division marks, DIG Jails, Lucknow range, Sharad Kulshreshtha said and added one of the inmates failed to clear the examination.Similarly, at Fatehgarh jail, four inmates scored second division marks, Kulshreshtha told TOI.Interestingly, the only candidate who was lodged in Lucknow Model jail but released after he filled the board form, was allowed to appear in the examination at the jail centre. The man has scored second division mark, senior superintendent of Lucknow jail, SHM Rizvi said.
It is not only the Uttar Pradesh Board exams, the inmates are also pursuing various courses offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and other institutes, Rizvi said and added examinations of IGNOU are underway, Rizvi added said.