'Suffering in silence': Over 60% undertrials in Andhra poor, illiterate; unable to pay bail amount

Vijayawada: Over 60 per cent of undertrials in Andhra Pradesh are either illiterate or school dropouts. Nearly 73 per cent of total inmates in Andhra Pradesh jails are undertrials. Undertrial prisoners became a major issue with many politicians and organizations demanding speedy trials.

Politicians as well as the legal fraternity underlined that most of the undertrials are poor or from ordinary families and they have appealed to state to release them on bail whenever possible. NCRB's prison statistics in India-2021 reveal that of the total 7,950 prison inmates in Andhra Pradesh, 5,831 including 312 females are undertrials,. 2,104 are convicts, nine are detenues.

Education profile revealed that 1,641 undertrials are illiterate, 2,437 have studied up to Class-X, 456 are graduates and 84 postgraduates. The report said 1,149 undertrials have passed Class-X but have not completed graduation and 64 were holding tech degree or diploma in the state. Among the undertrials, 4,658 were belonged to Andhra Pradesh, 1,160 belonged to other states and 13 were from other countries.

Around 2,014 (34.5 per cent) undertrials are 18-30 years of age, 3,180 are (54.5 per cent) 30 to 50 years and 637 (10.9 per cent) are 50 years and above. Over 60 per cent of the total undertrials were charged with offences under the IPC, while the rest were charged under NDPS, SLL and few others in the state.

It was observed that some inmates can't even afford the bail amount, let alone hiring an advocate. A poor man (accused person in the crimes) remains in prison over a year without a trial for minor offences, said well known advocates. In central prisons at Vizag and Rajahmundry, most of the undertrials were involved in cannabis trade and they have been struggling to get bail, he added. Around 1,100 booked under NDPS are in Vizag Central prison.