A Happy Climax.

KORAPUT: He promised to offer a new life after serving a sentence of 15 years in the jail on murder charges when the doors of the district jail at Koraput were stretched open for Madkami Kosa and Rupdhar Jani on the eve of Independence Day this year . The two prisoners had been sentenced for life time on murder charges and after serving for 15 years in the jail they were released under pre mature release under 14 years rule , D.N.Panda , the jail superintendent said .

However it would not have been so special if it would not have been the release of Madkami Kosa . It was a tearful farewell for him from the jail . The jail mates including the staff members would miss his active presence as he was a friend to everyone in the jail , Mr.Panda said . Madkami who was a rich tribal farmer from Koya community in Malkangiri district had been jailed with the charges that he had murdered a person during a conflict .

Everyone who had come across him could sense the richness in his feeling for the welfare of the others . He was eager to spare items with the fellow prisoners even from those purchased for him out of his incentive amount from time to time during his tenure in the jail for the last 15 years . He had the possession of at least 40 Acres of patta land at Poteru , his native village near Maniakonda in Malkangiri district . This too was useful for the prisoners . He had sent two jobless youth to his village to work in the field and other avenues in his control after their release from the jail. He had adopted two children earlier when their parents had died and these two youth were two more , he said with a smile .

His heart was filled with pride while dictating the name of his village . He was an illiterate just like many other tribal people in his community when he had reached the jail 15 years back . But thanks to the authorities in the jail , he was able to read newspapers , books and write letters to his family members , he added .

He was happy with his tenure in the jail . “It was no different from my own home and everyone here is a family member” – were his words of praise while he walked out of the jail gate holding the hands of Rupdhar Jani another old prisoner who was also released under the same rule . Rupdhar from Chotpakna village in Jharigaon block of Nowrangpur district had lost his family members one after the other while he was serving the sentence for the last 15 years on the charges of murdering his wife . There was no one left in his village now . He did not know what to do after his release . But thanks to Madkami , he has a new life now . He too joined steps with Madkami marching ahead on the road leading towards Poteru in Malkangiri district . Mr.Panda, the superintendent and all others in the jail had words of praise on the climax .
(EOM)