The Haryana Prisons department has decided to install CCTV cameras and deploy jail personnel in jail vans for safe and secure transportation of prisoners. The reason behind the extreme step was after the authority suspected that during the commuting of the inmates they find it easy to obtain mobile phones, electronic gadgets and illegal substances.
Apart from this, the department has also decided to install more CCTV cameras in the vicinity of the jails. As of now, the premises have 50 CCTV cameras across Bhondsi Jail in Gurugram. This will be increased to 100 soon. An official with the department has confirmed that a letter in this regard has been sent to the Director-General of Police (DGP) of Haryana.
“The CCTV cameras will be connected to the control room in the Jail premises and the personnel will deploy round the clock to keep a tab on every movement inside the premises.
We have issued strict instructions to the Jail superintendents across the state that no lapses will be tolerated and strict action will be initiated against the guilty officer,” said DG- Prisons of Haryana, K Selvaraj. Sharing the ambitious plan, department officials said the installation of CCTV cameras and deployment of jail officials in prisoner vans will help to keep a tab on inmates and police personnel outside the jail and there will be fewer changes for inmates to communicate any outsiders during their commuting to court, hospital and adjoining district.
At present, the Bhondsi Jail in Gurugram holds 2300 inmates and on an average, nearly 100 prisoners are produced before the district court for trials on a daily basis.
Furthermore, sources with the prisons department said that the involvement of the police personnel and jail wardens could not be ruled out to provide them with electronic items and drugs.
“During the routine transportation of the inmates a couple of time it came to fore that the police personnel to stop at roadside eatery shop to have or buy something along with inmates and something used to talk on a phone. This shows serious security lapse done by the personnel,” sources mentioned.
Recently a serious security lapse came to fore by the jail authority on September 20 when a rape accused hid in the garbage van which came inside the jail premises to collect garbage and fled successfully and is still on the run.
“During their routine transportation for trial and for medical treatments the inmates used to be guarded by police battalion and a prisoners vehicle used to be arranged as per the number of prisoners. A strict instruction has already been given to the personnel to be alert during commuting of the inmates,” said Subhash Boken, PRO of Gurugram police.
Meanwhile, this year so far the district police have registered 41 cases under sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and Section 42 of the Prisons Act (introduction or removal of prohibited articles into or from prison).
