A day after the Delhi Police issued a Press statement pinning responsibility on Tihar jail authority for the murder of two undertrials inside the police van, the Tihar Jail has claimed that the Delhi Armed Police’s 3rd battalion was solely responsible for escorting prisoners of Delhi Prisons during production to various authorised places in the city.
A Press statement from Jail Superintendent Naveen Katarya said that the Prison Administration is concerned by the unfortunate incident of gruesome murder of two prisoners by seven other prisoners.
“The Press Release of Delhi Police is malicious, not based on facts and an attempt to tarnish the image of Delhi Prison by spreading falsehood. The 3rdBatallion, Delhi Police is solely entrusted with the responsibility of safe custody and escorting of prisoners of Delhi Prisons during production to various authorised places in the city, outside Delhi, hospitals in Delhi, short and custody paroles of prisoners of Delhi Prisons.
“It is not true that we are only responsible for ferrying the undertrial prisoners as stated by the DCP IIIrdBatallion,” said a Press statement.
Statement further said it is pertinent to mention that Rule 25 (1) of Delhi Prisons (Admission, Classification, Separation, Remission, Rebarred and Release of Prisoners) Rules 1988 which reads as under. “The Commissioner of Police shall inform in writing to the Jail authorities that a prisoner is dangerous, prone to escape or otherwise require special arrangement for safe custody. On receipt of such information the Superintendent shall keep the prisoner in a specially secured ward and keep a strict vigilance,” it said.
It also said that the battalion had denied providing the security to Neeraj Bawana, citing the battalion was facing acute shortage of manpower.