Amit Deshmukh announces release of prisoners amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday evening announced that as part of COVID-19 prevention measures, the prison department will release 11,000 prisoners one-third of the 36,000 prison population from over 50 state prisons in the next few days.

Deshmukh said that those being released would include inmates behind bars for offences with punishment up to seven years.

Coronavirus cases in India is now 724 (including 66 cured/discharged persons and 17 deaths), said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. PM Modi has announced 21-day lockdown in the country to prevent the spread. The number of deaths around the world from the novel coronavirus cases has crossed 21,000.