The Jammu & Kashmir Prisons department is gearing up to launch an intensive vaccination drive for the jail inmates above 45 years of age across both the central jails in Jammu and Srinagar besides one dozen district and sub jails in the region.

According to official sources, "over 150 jail inmates have been tested positive for coronavirus in the recent weeks across different jails".

The highest number of 72 inmates tested positive while they were lodged in Udhampur district jail and 53 Rohingyas shifted to a holding centre set up inside sub-jail Hiranagar also tested positive recently.   Chief Medical Officer, Kathua Dr Ashok Choudhary said, "all 53 Rohingyas have been kept under observation inside the holding centre and have been provided with Corona kits". No one needed hospitalisation as they were asymptomatic, he added.

According to DIG Prisons Dr Mohd Sultan Lone, "out of over 4500 jail  inmates 316 prisoners were vaccinated across different jails till May 26".He said a vaccination camp was organised in Anantnag district jail on Thursday. He said it's a continuous process and we are on the job to vaccinate  prisoners belonging to different age groups". So far,  38 prisoners have been vaccinated in Central jail Srinagar, 81 in Udhampur, 42 in Bhaderwah, 53 in Rajouri, 10 in Baramulla, 28 in Pulwama, 58 in Kathua and 6 in Reasi jail premises.

Earlier, a high powered committee headed by Justice Ali Mohd Magrey of Jammu & Kashmir High Court  had suggested the UT administration to decongest the prisons  in the wake of prevailing circumstances.

The Committee was constituted by the Jammu & Kashmir Government following an order by the Supreme Court on March 23, 2020 and May 7, 2021, directing the States and the UTs to decongest jails to ensure social distancing among the prisoners.

The Members of the Committee had also deliberated on the proposed category of prisoners, who may be considered for grant of interim bail for 90 days in view of the present circumstances.