Bangalore Central Jail

bangalore: love in the backyard of crime. so much so that many of the jailbirds have become life partners. some, when both were still behind bars. this is bangalore central jail. love, it seems, is all around. jail authorities say that over the last few years, over two dozen such couples have met while behind bars and gone on to select each other as life partners. several others are ``deeply'' in love and ``devoted'' and intend getting married once they are out. in a system where prisoners are segregated by gender, the chances of these lovebirds meeting everyday is not common. but these prisoners have devised a unique communication network to stay connected and organise the occasional rendezvous. the most dependable, of course, is to use the good offices of the wardens. little messages scribbled on tiny bits of paper and invariably tucked behind the ear. for little favours such as a bar of soap or a packet of biscuits, the chit is passed on to the warden of the women's ward. rare meetings are also scheduled in the interview room, mostly through notes and letters. ``i shall be in the interview room around 4 pm. can you come there?'' the message is delivered and soon a meeting is organised.