Shreyas H S
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore
Mangalore, Jun 24: After the brazen attack launched by the undertrials on policemen and jail staff recently, the Mangalore prison is now gearing up to install 16-20 close circuit cameras in all the 16 barracks to closely monitor the movements of the jail inmates in a bid to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. The cameras would be installed within a week.
The policemen and jail staff on June 8 had came under severe attack by the undertrials over the transfer of two alleged criminals. Several policemen as well as undertrials were injured in the attack. A couple of days later, tension broke out again after the inmates fought among themselves and one was hospitalized.
The department of prison is also mulling to construct 24 high security cells to end the burden of shifting violent jail inmates to other prisons. These cells would be built in a place, where the old prison was located earlier. The inmates who allegedly exhibit provocative behaviour would be kept in these high security cells.
The incident that resulted in injuries to policemen, jail staff and damage of prison properties has forced the prison department to upgrade the monitoring system in the prison. As an immediate measure the ADGP, IG prisons K V Gagandeep directed the Mangalore prison authority to install CCTVs in all the barracks. There are as many as 350 inmates in the prison. Each barrack shelters 35-40 inmates.
The superintendent of prison, Mangalore, P S Ramesh speaking to daijiworld said, “We are set to improve the monitoring of jail inmates on the directions of ADGP. This is an effort to stop incidents of assaults and to maintain peace in the prison. The public works department (PWD) has visited the jail to estimate the cost for the installation of close circuit cameras. We are hoping that the department would soon earmark the budget." He said that within a week cameras would be placed in all the barracks.
A proposal has been sent to the ADGP on building 24 high security cells to shift the undertrials who indulge in unruly acts in the jail. Currently such inmates are shifted to the prisons located in other districts. "The plan could be realized in two years if all goes well," he assured.