Tears & smiles firm bonds at city jail

LUDHIANA: It was an emotional day at Central Jail on Tajpur Road. Tears and smiles marked the moment when sibling love broke the shackles. Sisters came to fasten rakhies on their brothers' wrists. Authorities also tried to make the day special for the prisoners.
In conformity with the instructions issued by cabinet minister Hira Singh Gabriya, authorities lmade special arrangements.There were no stumbling blocks for the visitors who had arrived to meet their relatives in prison. The authorities allowed sisters to meet their brothers in the open. On any other day, the prisoners are allowed to meet their relatives but from behind bars. Authorities also allowed the siblings to stay together longer than the allotted time.
Jail superintendent S P Khanna said.' We intended to make it a special day for the prisoners. Normally, we allow prisoners to meet their visitors for 20 to 25 minutes. However on Rakhi, we did not like to interrupt the conversations.'
For some of the sisters, the day had come after a year. 'I am settled outside the state after marriage. I had met my brother during last Rakhi. So, I decided to visit him,' said Manpreet, who had come to meet her brother.'
Meanwhile, not lagging behind in displaying their love, the brothers whose sisters are behind bars also came with lots of gifts. There are a total of 213 women prisoners lodged here.
It was a tough day for the security guards. Khanna said, 'Both sides cooperated. We tried to make it an easy day for the visitors and prisoners and they also responded. Nothing unwanted was reported.' There are approximately 3,000 prisoners.