Tihar installs CCTVs to monitor prisoners

Electronic eyes would now keep a round-the-clock watch on blade- slashers and miscreant prisoners inside Asia’s biggest jail, Tihar, and help prison authorities keep a better check on untoward incidents.

Electronic eyes would now keep a round-the-clock watch on blade- slashers and miscreant prisoners inside Asia’s biggest jail, Tihar, and help prison authorities keep a better check on untoward incidents.

HT Image

The government and jail authorities have put together a network of 258 close circuit cameras inside the Tihar and the Rohini jails and live feed from these gadgets would be monitored by officials at the prisons’ control room, which was inaugurated by Delhi’s Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday.

"We can now be forewarned about any suspicious activity inside the jail and take timely action. This will also help the prison staff to communicate better with inmates," said BK Gupta, Director General (Prisons).

Speaking at the inaugural function, Dikshit said the number of inmates in Tihar is much higher than its capacity. She said the government decided to install the cameras at all vulnerable places in the jail to effectively monitor
activities inside the jail. While 227 CCTV cameras have been installed in Tihar Jail, which is spread over an area of 400 hectares, 31 CCTV cameras have also been installed in the smaller Rohini Jail.

Cameras have been installed on main entry door, visiting rooms and high security wards. The Government has spent Rs 2.72 crore on this project. Officials said the cameras have been helping senior officers to keep an eye and enhance vigilance to ensure foolproof security.