CM to review prison security next week

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25

Taking a serious view of the violence in Gurdaspur central jail, CM Captain Amarinder Singh has convened a high-level meeting of police and Home Department officials next week to review the security in the state’s prisons in light of frequent violent incidents in jails since the past several years.

The CM directed a review of the security conditions and promised sweeping reforms in the jails to eliminate the rot that had set in during the past 10 years of Badal misrule. The government will review the report submitted recently by the high-powered committee on jail reforms and will initiate measures to improve prison administration.

A statement issued here stated that Capt Amarinder had ordered officials concerned to deal with the situation in Gurdaspur and ensure that law and order was restored in the prison without delay.

Expressing concern over the frequent outbreak of trouble, the CM said he had been in touch with senior police, prison and intelligence officials and the situation was now under control in Gurdaspur.

In his preliminary report on the incident, Home Secretary NS Kalsi said the situation was resolved on the intervening night of March 24-25. The incident occurred when a few gangsters undergoing trial in several murder cases incited inmates of one of the barracks to confront the prison staff after assaulting three warders on duty.