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With zero-tolerance policy towards crime and criminals, the Uttar Pradesh government on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has equipped sensitive jails of the state with hi-tech gadgets to keep a close vigil on the activities of the hardened criminals, especially to ensure that the inmates do not enjoy luxury or homely comfort and run their criminal activities freely from within the safe boundaries of prisons.
The government has come up with new and innovative ways to keep a check on criminals who have also gone hi-tech with the passing time.
An official communiqué released on Saturday said that after getting inputs on how the listed gangsters lodged in jails were not just enjoying homely comfort in the prisons but were also using latest technology to operate their gangs and execute sensational crimes, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued directives to upgrade the jails in Uttar Pradesh with hi-tech gadgets so that the criminals could not do so and stayed there just like any other prisoner.
The communiqué said to improve and strengthen the security system in district jails of Lucknow, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot and Bareilly, the state government had equipped them with advanced facilities to keep the notorious criminals under round-the-clock surveillance.
Devices ranging from drone cameras to deep search metal detectors have been installed in these prisons. The condition of these five district prisons have been improved by using modern techniques. Under this, concertina fencing has been done on the main wall of the jails. Each prison has one unique non-linear junction detector (NLJD) and five drone cameras. Besides, five night vision binoculars, 25 hand held metal detectors have also been provided. To protect these devices from being damaged by high voltage fluctuations, heavy duty stabilisers have been installed while 48 additional high megapixel CCTV cameras have been installed in the district prison of Lucknow. According to the release, CCTV surveillance units have been installed in all the prisons of the state. Along with this, 30 cameras have been installed in each prison of the state.
Talking about the current arrangements, there are 220 additional cameras of 4/5 mega pixels in 55 prisons of Uttar Pradesh. In total, there are 3,080 cameras installed in all the jails of the state. Feeds of these cameras are available for viewing in Headquarters Video Wall/Command Centre. The live feed of all the district prisons can be seen directly at the headquarters.
Not only this, a state-of-the-art FG-1 pole metal detection system has been installed in all the prisons to monitor the detainees. A multi-zone door frame and 3-5 handheld metal detectors have also been provided to all prisons of the state.
Speaking about the use of technology in the jails, Director General, (Jails) Anand Kumar said, "The state government has made an intercom system for internal communication in all the prisons. A public address system has been arranged so that the detainees can be addressed simultaneously."
Digital cameras for photography and multimedia projectors have also been provided to all prisons for the promotion of good prison practice. For the entertainment of the prisoners, LED televisions have been provided and geysers have been installed to make hot water available during the winter season.
Uttar Pradesh Security Headquarters has provided deep search metal detectors to keep a check on smuggling of prohibited items like surgical blades, knives or any kind of metal objects hidden underground, drains, terrace and other places in prisons. A total of 121 deep search metal detectors have been arranged in Dr Sampurnanand Prison Training Institute for use. Besides, each district prison of the state has been provided with one or two deep search metal detectors. Handheld and static wireless sets have been provided to strengthen communication systems within the prisons. At present, all the prisons of the state have at least 10 handheld and one static set as well as 20 handsets and one static set in large prisons.
Using modern technology, video conferencing units have been arranged in prisons and district courts of the state for remand of under-trials. So far, video conferencing units have been established in 73 district courts and 70 prisons in the state. Remission of prisoners under consideration, under Section 167 (2) of Criminal Procedure Code, is being processed through these units. So far, remand of about 17 lakh prisoners have been accomplished through video conferencing. This has reduced the risk of security and at the same time saved the government money.