One of the inmates in class. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Their fellow students gaped at them in awe and probably with a tinge of fear too when they started attending the classes last year. However, things are now a bit different. Though the trio still come down in handcuffs, they hold pens in their hands while listening to the lectures attentively.

Three convicts, presently lodged in Beur Central Jail, have just one aim in life, to become journalists to prove their innocence.

The three are pursuing a two-year master of journalism and masscommunication course from Nalanda Open University.

Himanshu Kumar Singh (35) is one among them.

A resident of Jakkanpur in Patna, he was brought to this jail in January 2006 for allegedly murdering a neighbour.

His friend, Navin Kumar (28), who hails from Phulwarisharif, has been charged with murdering his wife and is lodged in Beur Central Jail since 2004.

The last of them, Sanjay Kumar (30) is serving a sentence since March 2008 in a fraud case.

“I really do not know when I will be free or whether I will ever be released or not, but I am firm to stay away from crime. Sitting down and losing heart does not really help. I need to do something creative. And journalism is something which can really help me write about the wrongs being committed around me,” said Himanshu, as he was moving towards the police van after the classes.

Whenever the classes of the university are held, these men are taken for it from the jail premises under strong security, comprising one havildar and four constables.

The policemen are present in the class during the lectures and the trio are always kept handcuffed.

Sanjay said that his aim was to study the subject to prove his innocence.

“I was working in a home loan finance company. A client cheated me and slapped forgery charges on me. I did not do it. But I did not lose heart. It is always said that the pen is mightier than the sword. And I want to prove this. I want to lead a respectable life when I come out of here,” he added.

Assistant jailer of Beur Central Jail A.K. Singh said while the two men charged with murder were serving their sentences, the one held for fraud was an undertrial.

“Yes, they are studying. With regard to the undertrial, we always need permission from the respective court in which his case is going on whenever he has to be taken out. For the other two, there needs to be permission from the district magistrate. The university has classes at regular intervals and we have asked these men to always intimate us in advance about the classes and also ask the university authorities to send us a formal letter so that the arrangements can be made,” the officer said.

“I really do not know about the details. But I might secure bail or be released. I also do not know as to how people will treat me when I am free, whether I would be able to secure a job or not. But studying masscommunication is important for me. Journalists are known to mirror whatever goes on in the society. So I want to become one in order to do the same. The twists and turns in the judiciary need to come to light,” he said.

The students said they were very normal sharing the classes with them.

“Earlier, we used to feel a bit awkward. But then they started to act normal and we also spoke to them. It feels sad to see them handcuffed all the time. Their cuffs should be removed in class. We do not have any problems studying with them,” one of their classmates, Jagganath Prasad said.