On the lines of Delhi’s Tihar Jail, the first high security barracks are going to be built in Uttarakhand. The security of these barracks will be so tight that even a bird will not be able to fly over them. These barracks are being built in the district jail Haridwar. This decision has been taken by the government to end the extortion and drug business run by notorious criminals sitting in jails by colluding with the gangs and jail staff. High security barracks will be ready by 2025. Despite all the security arrangements in jails, the use of mobile phones, complaints of extortion, cases of fights and drug abuse are not being controlled. In view of this problem, these barracks are being built to tighten the noose on notorious criminals committing crimes while staying in jail.
In the past, incidents like use of mobile phones, demanding extortion, ransom for murder have come to the fore in Haridwar, Almora and Pauri jails. After the incidents, the jail administration either changes the staff or shifts the prisoners here and there. To prevent recurrence of such incidents in jails, a proposal to build a high security barrack in Dehradun’s Sudhowala jail was sent to the government by IG Jail (Retd.) Pushpak Jyoti. The proposal has been given the green signal and it has been decided to build this barrack in District Jail Haridwar instead of Sudhowala jail.
Under the proposal, 50 barracks will be built for notorious criminals lodged in 11 jails of the state. At present, there are 15 such notorious prisoners in the state, who are operating gangs while staying in jails. Separate barracks will be arranged for them in the high security barracks. From search outside to high resolution cameras, scanners and jammers will be installed in the barracks.
Outside force will provide security
The jail administration has planned to deploy force from outside for security in the barracks. Trained staff of PAC or IRB force can be included in this. The jail superintendent will keep a 24 hour vigil in the barracks. The IG jail will keep taking regular updates. At present, when a crime takes place in jails, the jail staff is often found to be involved. In the 11 jails of the state, neither jail superintendents nor jailers are deployed in sufficient numbers. The jail administration is also facing the problem of who should be deployed for the security of the prisoners after taking action.
These notorious criminals are lodged in the jails of Uttarakhand
At present, the notorious Sunil Rathi, Chinu Pandit, Praveen Valmiki, Narendra Valmiki, Kaleem, Intezaar Pehelwan, Sunil Rathi’s many henchmen, Prakash Pandey, Bhupinder alias Bhuppi and others are lodged in 11 jails of the state. Along with the jail administration, Intelligence and STF are also keeping a constant watch on them.