Control room set up in B'luru to monitor 8 central jails in state

Bengaluru, Dec 7 (DHNS): Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said the state government may release about 250 prisoners for 'good conduct' on Republic Day on January 26, 2017.

“The prison is not just a place to keep criminals. It is also a place to reform inmates. The government has released about 650 inmates based on their good conduct in the last one year. We may order premature release of 250 inmates in January,” he said.

Parameshwara was addressing the Prisons department staff after inaugurating the control room to monitor activities in all the eight central prisons across the state through CCTV cameras. The control room has been set up at the Prisons department headquarters in Bengaluru. “Measures suggested by international human rights’ associations are being implemented. One of the measures was to instal CCTV cameras in all the prisons to ensure protection of human rights of prisoners,” he said explaining the reforms initiated by the Prisons department.

The government would soon build new prisons across the state. “A state-of-the-art structure has been built at Shivamogga at a cost Rs 100 crore which will be inaugurated shortly. Similar prisons will come up on the outskirts of Mangaluru," he said.

Due to rapid growth of urban areas, the prisons constructed during the British era are located in thickly populated areas creating problems for local residents. “We are building prisons on city outskirts so that they cater for the next 50 years," he said.

Parameshwara presented the President’s Medals to 10 officers for meritorious and distinguished services. Director General of Police (Prisons) H N Sathyanarayana Rao and other senior officers were present.