A LONG WAIT: B. Chandramohan, sentenced for life imprisonment, meeting his children Akila and Rammohan after a gap of two years at the Central Prison, Cherlapally, in Hyderabad on Saturday. — PHOTO: P.V.Sivakumar.

HYDERABAD: For a 35-year-old convict in Cherlapally Central Prison P. Injanna, it was a dream come true on Saturday. He met his wife Narasamma, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, and daughter Manasa at an interactive meeting organised by Sri Venkateswara Charitable Trust with the children of inmates on jail premises.

The couple from Gadwal in Mahabubnagar district was convicted in 1999 for their involvement in a murder case reported in 1995. The incident occurred following a dispute over an agricultural land. Since then, Injanna was lodged in Cherlapally prison and Narasamma in Chanchalguda women's prison.

"We haven't met for the last seven years. My wife and I were meeting my daughter for the first time. Though I was involved in the case, my wife was falsely implicated, " Injanna said, hugging his daughter Manasa, a fourth-standard student.

Other convicts

Apart from Injanna, 22 other convicts met their children. The children, all below 12 years, are pursuing their education in Don Bosco School at Bahadurpally with the initiative taken up by the Trust. "I will never forget this day as I have met my baby Shirisha after I came to the jail in July 2003," another convict K. Raju said.

An enthralling cultural programme by the children on the occasion turned out to be a memorable event for the inmates.

High Court Judge G. Rohini, who was the chief guest, said that the society, particularly voluntary organisations, should play a vital role in changing the mindset of those released from jail, and lauded the measures being taken by the Trust. Director General, Prisons, R. P. Singh, retired Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court A. Laxmana Rao and Sri Venkateswara Charitable Trust Managing Trustee P. Venkata Krishna Rao were among those who attend the programme.

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