Bhubaneswar, May 18: Odisha Jail Authorities have released as many as 126 under trial prisoners (UTP) from jails on parole on May 16 as a precaution to keep the jails safe from Covid-19.

Another 323 under trial prisoners are going to be released soon in order to contain corona infection behind the bars.

The department decided to release as many as 449 UTPs as soon as possible after an inmate of Jharapada special jail succumbed to Corona and a number of jail employees became Corona affected.

As per the review meeting conducted by Director General , Jail Santosh Upadhyay on Monday, Corona infection is now a concern for the jails. That’s why the overcrowded jails are being emptied with releasing senior inmates those are eligible for bail out.

Apart from it, the senior inmates above 60 years are under consideration to be released.The district level review committee is working on it to recommend such inmates. Similarly, the inmates accused of petty crimes are to be bailed out and police is asked to forward accused involved in bigger offences only.

On the other hand, the DG asked the jail superintendents to implement Covid protocols in the jail and take up regular sanitation and sanitization inside the jail premises.

Besides, testing, treating and vaccination to the inmates and employees would be accelerated with the help of the health officials and urban body authorities, he added.