Conflict

MHA drafts six long, 23 short term measures to increase vigil in Srinagar jails

New Delhi: A list of six long and 23 short term measures have been drafted by the Ministry of Home Affairs for jails in Srinagar, after the escape of Laskhar militant Naveed Jutt earlier this month.

The measures also include segregating ‘separatists, Pakistani, Kashmiri militants from other inmates’, reported the Hindustan Times.

According to the report, Home secretary Rajiv Gauba has personally sent the official communication to the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government on February 13. Based on intelligence reports and inputs which the MHA received from various agencies, the action has been taken.

The Ministry in its long term plans has said that the Central Jail Srinagar should be shifted to the outskirts of the valley. They also said that prisoners should be transported in bullet proof vehicles.

 

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As part of the short-term measures, the ministry has asked the state government to introduce a system of cross-frisking under which all visitors, including security forces, will be searched in the presence of CRPF troopers, J&K police officials and jail staffers. Similarly, the staffers will be frisked by the security forces.

In order to ensure that separatists and militants don’t mingle, security agencies should carry out frequent raids in the prison, the report added.

The state has also been told to contest court orders which say that the prisoners need to be lodged near the trial courts.

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Some of the other measures include banning the use of mobile phones by staff and visitors on jail premises, stricter visiting hours, establishing separate entries for men and women visitors and the effective management of the prisoners mess, to stop individuals from cooking food.

A senior home ministry official while speaking to Hindustan Times, “The issue here is not prisoners, but overall security of the jail, especially visitors. The new directions will keep in check any untoward activities,” the official said. “There are 25 militants who need to be shifted out of the Valley and most of them have been shifted. Rest of the measures will be taken care of subsequently,” the official added.

Earlier, it was reported, after the escape of Naveed Jutt, prison security of all the jails would be revived. After the escape, the Superintendent of the Central Jail was suspended.

After the escape, the Director General of Police S P Vaid had said that the escape would not have been possible wihout connivance from within the Central Jail.

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