Ballari, 10 April

A convict serving a life sentence for murder at Ballari Central Jail has passed the Karnataka Second PUC Arts examination with 80.1 per cent, results for which were announced on Thursday.

Ashok Kumar, 27, a native of Bengaluru, scored 481 out of 600 marks — securing 94 in History, 84 in Economics, 82 in Kannada, 77 in Sociology, 75 in Political Science, and 69 in English — to pass with a first class.

Ashok, who has been imprisoned at Ballari jail for nine years, appeared for the exam under police escort after registering through distance learning.

Director General of Police Alok Kumar praised the achievement on social media, saying the walls of the prison had not dampened Ashok's hopes for a better future and that his achievement was heartwarming.

Deputy Inspector General of Prisons TP Sesha told Salar News that Ashok had expressed a strong interest in education and was provided a separate cell and a teacher to study, adding that he will now be enrolled in a degree programme next.

Ballari Deputy Director of Pre-University Education Laxman Halladamani congratulated Ashok and the prison staff, saying, "Even while being in prison and without any facilities, he succeeded due to his dedication to studies," Halladamani said.