Eighty prisoners, undergoing life sentence in the Central Jail here, were released on parole to celebrate Diwali with their families.

The three-day parole was granted considering their good behavior during their terms in the jail. They will join their families in this district, Erode, Tiruppur, Nilgiris and Salem, jail sources said.

Stating that the parole was granted with the surety of two persons, they said that 16 prisoners were released yesterday and 64 today. Moreover, they were given money, from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000, as part of their emoluments for working in the jail. All of them will be brought back in by those signed the surety, sources said.