Prisoners to learn sculpting instead of making illicit arms

Lucknow: Prisoners who are lodged in Etah district jail on charges of manufacturing illicit firearms will now get lessons in sculpture.

Etah SSP Ashish Tiwari, who has sent a letter to the district magistrate I.P. Pandey,  requesting him to make arrangements for sculpture classes in jail, said, “Those who make illegal firearms are adept in the art of moulding iron and other metals. Their expertise can be used to make candle stands and other such items, including metal statues.”

The SSP said that this would help the prisoners earn their living after they complete their term and will also change their thinking.

He said that majority of the inmates booked for making illegal firearms had confessed that they had no means of livelihood and were forced to enter this trade.

According to reports, there are several villages in Etah district where illegal firearms are the main trade.

The SSP said, “The main motive behind this initiative is to involve the inmates in a craft that they are familiar with. It is also an effort to channelize their energies in a creative way.”