Patna, Aug. 7: Bhikhari Tiwary (50), a resident of Gopalganj and a murder convict who spent 15 years at Buxar jail, is set to start a fresh life after he was released yesterday.

“I will start a new life from tomorrow. This is like a rebirth after remaining confined to the four walls of the prison for 15 years. But now I am a changed man,” Tiwary told his relatives, who had come to receive him in the jail, around 100km west of Patna.

Tiwary is among the 61 murder convicts whose names have been shortlisted for early release on the recommendation of the state remission board. Other eligible convicts are lodged in jails at Beur, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Motihari, Banka, Muzaffarpur, Sasaram, Ara and Begusarai.

Inspector-general (prisons and correctional services) Anand Kishor said: “The inmates were shortlisted at the remission board’s meeting held on June 21. The list was later sent to the government for its approval. The government gave its nod on July 31 and the prison directorate issued letters to the jail superintendents concerned on August 5.”

Buxar jail superintendent S.K. Ambastha said Tiwary was assigned the duty of a watchman during the day and he performed well .