Shreyas H S
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Apr 10: Security has been stepped up in the premises of the district jail, with the installation of CCTVs at three different locations including the prison gate. This measure has been taken to monitor the movements of the visitors, prisoners and jail staff so as to avoid illegal activities in the prison.
Mangalore jail has witnessed new initiatives after the induction of Ramesh P S as superintendent of jail. Apart from installation of CCTVs for better security, stringent rules have been enforced by to avoid flouting of prison rules.
Speaking to daijiworld, Ramesh P S said the jail had witnessed several irregularities and instances of indiscipline and it had become tough to monitor the activities. Thus a proposal was sent to the ADGP and IG (prisons) K V Gagandeep requesting to install at least 16 CCTVs.
Promptly responding to the proposal, Gagandeep took necessary steps to bring the prison under the surveillance of CCTVs. On Monday March 7, three CCTVs were installed at three different locations - one at the main gate (entrance) of the jail premises, another at the second gate and third at the entrance of the prison building. This would help to keep an eye on the movements of those who visit the jail, said Ramesh.
More CCTVs will be installed in the next three months after allotment of the funds in this year’s budget. Three CCTVs were sanctioned in the last budget considering the sensitivity of the prison that houses prisoners who are aides of underworld dons Ravi Poojary and Bannanje Raja.
"Earlier, visitors used to illegally supply banned items such as mobile phones and ganja to the prisoners by hoodwinking the jail staff. In some of the incidents, even the staff were found to be involved and memo was issued to stop such illegal activities. CCTVs would motivate the staff to work in the interest of the jail and eliminate such illegal activities," said Ramesh.
Photo Identity
In another step, it has been made mandatory for family members or friends of prisoners and undertrials to produce their photo identity cards (voter ID, driver's license, pan card etc) before entering the premises. "This will help to provide details of the visitor in case any illegal activity is noticed. A person can visit the jail only once a week and jail officers will not bow to any pressure that will violate this rule," Ramesh explained
Separate Zone for Non-smokers
The prison has recently come up with the concept of shifting non-smokers who wish stay away from smokers to a separate cell. Ramesh said prisoners who request isolation from smokers would be shifted to a separate barrack (cell) to avoid impact of passive smoking. Those who smoke can do so freely in their cells, he added.
New Scheme
A new scheme for the welfare of prison staff came into effect from March 1. In this scheme, jail staff who are assigned duty during the night shift (from 6:30 pm) are provided with free meals for dinner by the state government. This scheme was enforced considering the security issues of the prison during the night. Earlier, visitors used to allegedly supply banned articles through the tiffin boxes of the staff. To avoid these problems and also to reduce the burden on the family members of the prison staff, the scheme was employed.