The security of most of the jails in Uttarakhand being far from satisfactory, a jail break incident of the like of what happened at the high security Nabha jail of Punjab can occur here any time, say the jail officials. They say while requesting anonymity that aside from the acute shortage of manpower, the jails are not fitted with CCTV cameras and jammers. Moreover, the number of inmates being lodged in the jails of Uttarakhand is much more than their capacities. “We would not be surprised if a jail break happens here too,” said a senior jail official. Things are particularly grim with many hardened criminals from neighbouring states being lodged in the jails of Uttarakhand. Notably, there are 11 jails and two sub-jails in the State and things are bad in almost all of them, according to the jail officials. It is learnt that the important posts of deputy jailors have been lying vacant in various jails for a long time with the State administration sleeping on the recruitment process.
Dehradun Suddhowala jail superintendent NS Gwal said that over 1200-both convicts and accused- are being lodged in the jail, the figure being more than double of the capacity of the jail that is 500. “The staff crunch is grave too. We have asked the State administration to install sufficient number of CCTV cameras and jammers to keep tab on the movements of the inmates round the clock,” he said.
IG Jail PVK Prasad said that the jail officers have been directed to strengthen security in the aftermath of the Nabha incident. He asked them to remain alert when outsiders come to meet the jail inmates. “I would convene a meeting with the jail officers on December 2 to review the security arrangements and other necessary steps to be taken by way of strengthening security in the jails of the state,” he said. He further said that some inmates would be transferred from one jail to another to balance the number of the inmates. “Some inmates from Dehradun Suddhowala jail will be transferred to Sitarganj jail while around 50 inmates of sub-jail, Haldwani would be transferred in Haridwar,” he said, adding that there was no terrorist being kept in any jail of Uttarakhand. Notably, the capacity of lodging inmates in Haldwani sub-jail is around 250. But currently, around 1000 inmates are being kept in the same jail. The shortage of jail officials, including jail superintendent, jailors, deputy jailors, head warders, warders and female warders, has been leaving an adverse impact on the functioning of the jail administration.
Jayant Pangti, a Sitarganj open jail officer, had earlier said that no CCTV cameras had been installed in the jail. Recently, a team from State administration had inspected the jail and reviewed security and other necessary arrangements. A proposal stressing on purchasing jammers, CCTV cameras and metal detectors have been sent to the State Government through the police headquarters. Pangti said that the matter has been hanging fire since with the State administration sitting on it.
Moreover, the issue of sending around 100 police personnel to the jails on deputation is hanging before the State administration. Mention worthy, CM Harish Rawat asked police a few months ago to send around 100 police personnel on deputation to the jails for at least two years to tide over the acute staff crunch impacting efficient jail administration. But things are yet to make any headway with the senior cops reluctant to part with their staff in view of the fast-approaching election.
