Bengaluru: As many as 144 prisoners, including a woman, will walk free on the occasion of Republic Day on Thursday from central prisons throughout the state of Karnataka.

The highest number of prisoners (61) are being freed from Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru. Ballari Central Prison has the least number with the release of just nine prisoners. Only one woman prisoner will be released from Belagavi. Twenty three prisoners will be released from Mysuru prison, 17 (including one woman prisoner) from Belagavi, 16 from Vijayapura, 18 from Kalaburagi and nine from Ballari.

“Prisoners will be handed over good conduct certificates and formally freed after the valedictory function at all the central prisons throughout the state that will start at 3 pm,” H N Sathyanarayana Rao, Director General of Police (Prisons), said.