State to have 3 new jails with CCTVs, more barracks

The state will soon have three new prison facilities equipped with closed circuit television sets (CCTV’s) and video conferencing facilities, Home Minister R.R. Patil said on Friday, reports HT Correspondent.

The state will soon have three new prison facilities equipped with closed circuit television sets (CCTV’s) and video conferencing facilities, Home Minister R.R. Patil said on Friday.

HT Image

Patil was replying to a question raised by Shiv Sena’s Member of Legislative Council, Neelam Gorhe. Gorhe questioned the state of the Kalyan jail, which has a capacity of 700 inmates but has more than 1,500. Patil said the state’s quota of inmates is around 24,000, but it many more.

“In Thane jail, there are 2,500 inmates while its capacity is 1,105,” Patil said. “In Mumbai, there are 2,091 inmates in a space meant for 804. Many inmates are waiting to be presented in court.”

Patil said building three new jails at the district level and creating more barracks will ease the pressure on the existing prison facilities. Patil added that the state is considering installing CCTVs in all jails to step up vigilance.

The home minister also admitted that the number of guards in jails is 30 per cent less than the number required. This is why police constables have to escort inmates to courts, he said. “We will be recruiting more guards,” Patil said. “We have also initiated the process of installing video conferencing facilities in jails so that we don’t face this problem.”

Gorhe also asked Patil about the attack on prison officer, A.N. Shaikh, on February 13 by inmates who were allegedly drunk. Patil said investigations into the attack have shown that inmates were not drunk.