Maharashtra jails to have ‘watch groups’ to prevent suicides

Senior jail officers said these “watch groups”, with 7-8 inmates, will identify suicidal tendencies and abnormal behaviour among their barrack mates, especially first-timers or new inmates

Two days after an undertrial, Shabirali Garibulla Shaikh, committed suicide inside the Arthur Road jail, the authorities have decided to form ‘watch groups’ inside each barrack.

The groups will include inmates who are educated or those who have been in jail for long. (FILE)

Senior jail officers said these “watch groups”, with 7-8 inmates, will identify suicidal tendencies and abnormal behaviour among their barrack mates, especially first-timers or new inmates. The groups will include inmates who are educated or those who have been in jail for long.

The jail authorities said that each jail in the state has around 15 to 16 barracks and each barrack houses atleast 70 to 100 undertrials. Keeping a watch on each inmate’s behavioural pattern becomes difficult for the jail staff, which is posted outside the barrack. “Until the inmate displays peculiar, noticeable behaviour the staff cannot keep him under observation but the cell mates can do that and report to us,” said a senior jail official.

The inmates would then be given treatment and counselling by inmates. The inmate will also be made to speak to his family through video-conferencing. The jail authorities have begun identifying members for watch groups.R