THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The campaign for prisoners' rights and a ban on capital punishment has scored its first victory with the Government ordering the release of Annamma, the woman lifer who had spent 15 years behind the bars.

Annamma, an ailing elderly woman, was the focal point of a campaign for the release of eligible prisoners under the leadership of the Committee Against Capital Punishment.

Committee convener K. Girish Kumar has been on an indefinite fast before the Secretariat for nearly a week seeking release of ailing and aged lifers who have served their term and passage of a resolution by the Assembly against capital punishment.

The Committee Against Capital Punishment has hailed the Government decision and hoped that Annamma's release would be the beginning of a process that would ensure justice for prisoners like her.

The decision to release Annamma was taken on the basis of the recommendation of the Prison Advisory Committee.

There were scores of other lifers awaiting release from various prisons in Kerala. Among them is Veera, an aged prisoner who has been remaining in the Poojappura Central Prison for the last 20 years, Mr. Girish Kumar said here on Thursday. He pointed out that several clemency petitions from deserving lifers were now before the Government. The Government, he said, can release these prisoners invoking Article 161.

Among those awaiting the Government's favourable decision are Devaki and Saji Mol, both of who had failed in taking their lives after being part of suicide pacts and were sentenced for homicide, Mr. Girish Kumar said.

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