Prayagraj: For 285 inmates of Naini Central Jail, the festival of Rakshabandhan on Friday brought an emotional reunion with their sisters and relatives. Around 442 womenvisited the jail and tied rakhis to the jail inmates.The celebrations were organised in accordance with the directives of UP prisons department, with arrangements made for the visiting women and children by UP Crime Prevention Committee, Prayagraj. A tent, chairs, coolers, fans, fruits and refreshments were provided for visitors, while the jail administration distributed roli, akshat, sweets and rakhis.The sisters applied tilak and tied the sacred thread on their brothers’ wrists, praying for their long lives and early release. For several families, the occasion was particularly poignant as some had met their jailed relatives after years.Among them was Fatehpur resident Rekha, who met her brother Kalyan Singh after a long gap. She said he had been lodged in Naini Central Jail for nearly 20 years after being allegedly mistaken for a member of Dadua gang.Ninety-two prisoners who had no visitors were given fruits and daily-use items and had rakhis tied by the jail staff, ensuring they are not left out of the celebrations.Senior jail superintendent Vijay Vikram Singh said, “Festivals such as Rakshabandhan provide inmates an opportunity to reconnect with their families and maintain emotional bonds despite their circumstances.”
