IG (Prison) Suman Gupta during a surprise inspection, detected several lapses at the Ghaghidih Central Jail in Jamshedpur.
Gupta, who visited the central jail for the first time, spent over two hours and took stock of situation including the visitors and interacted directly to the prisoners lodged there.
“I was here to inspect the administration here. I found that there are security lapses both at the end of the jail administration as well as at the security system provided by the district police. I am not satisfied with the security arrangement which has to be strengthened further,” said Gupta.
The IG prison expressed concerns that the jammers, which have been installed at the central jail, are not working inspite of being repaired recently. Moreover, frisking work by the district police personnel is not being carried out properly.
“I am aware that the Ghaghidih Central Jail, like any other jail in the State, does not have requisite staff for the security.
The jail administration on its part, has not been keeping check on the security as strongly as it should. Though a surprise raid conducted by the district police inside the Ghaghidih Jail recovered cell-phone chargers, batteries and even SIM, nothing as such has been found during a raid by the jail administration," Gupta said.
She stated that therefore she has ordered the East Singhbhum deputy commissioner, Amitabh Kaushal to conduct surprise raid of the central jail at least twice a month and ensure deployment of adequate number of police personnel for carrying out frisking work at the jail gate.
Gupta expressed satisfaction that over 30 CCTV cameras are functional. She said that she has given instructions to ensure that the CCTV cameras are not damaged by anyone as they will work as third eye in the jail premises.
Sources said the IG also interacted with the prisoners to know about their problems. Notably, there are over 1,450 prisoners, including undertrail prisoners at the Ghaghidih Central Jail. Of these jail inmates, 64 are female prisoners, several of them have children.
Notably, the Ghaghidih Central Jail is spread over an area of 20 acres - set up on as large an area as Birsa MundaCentral Jail in Hotwar, Ranchi. The home department had conducted a survey of the jail in June 2009 before the recommendation for fixing mobile jammers in the jail.
Sources went on to inform that concerned over the situation at the jail the administration has plans to step up vigilance and deploy additional security forces.
IG (Prison) Suman Gupta carries surprise inspection at the Ghaghidih Central Jail in Jamshedpur