252 women tie rakhis to brothers in Naini jail

PRAYAGRAJ: On the occasion of Rakshabandhan, 252 women tied rakhis to their brothers lodged at Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj. Although the number of women who turned up on the occasion was less in comparison to earlier years, there was no lack of enthusiasm among them.

Recently, the government had issued orders once again to start allowing meeting of prisoners and their kin while following all Covid guidelines.

The jail administration has made all necessary arrangements and precautions for Rakshabandhan and has even arranged for rakhis, tika, roli etc for women who in case have forgotten to bring them.

Women and young girls started arriving at the gate of Naini Central Jail early on Sunday morning.

Within a few hours, a long queue was formed outside the main gate of the central prison. Not only local but many women from adjoining districts of Pratapgarh,

Kaushambi, Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Jaunpur etc also arrived to tie rakhi on the wrists of their brothers lodged in jail for different crimes.

Holding rakhi and other puja items in their hands, the women wait for their patiently before the formalities were completed and they were allowed to meet their brothers.

The jail administration was on alert over the Covid-19 threat and as per the guidelines, the RT-PCR reports of women were checked. As per the rules, the women having reports issued within 72 hours were allowed to meet their brothers, while women having no Covid test report or having old reports were not allowed inside.

Instead, their rakhis were sanitised properly and were then delivered to their brothers lodged in different barracks.

Senior superintendent at Naini Jail PN Pandey said a total of 344 women arrived to meet their brothers lodged in jail.

Among them, 252 tied rakhi to their brothers after the completion of necessary formalities. Covid protocols were strictly followed in view to keep the threat of Covid at bay, Pandey added.

Before the outbreak of the global pandemic, a large number of women from across the state used to turn up on Rakshabandhan to tie rakhis to their brothers lodged at Naini Central Jail.

Last year, no women were allowed to meet their brothers as visitors were prohibited inside jails as the Covid threat was at its peak.