Staff crunch imperils security at Central Jail

Nikhil Bhardwaj

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 28

Despite remaining in controversies over the recent incidents of clash among jail inmates or routine recovery of banned items, no efforts are being made to overcome the staff shortage in the Ludhiana Central Jail.

As per information obtained from the Jail Department, it houses 3,150 inmates, including undertrials and convicts, and has only 180 security personnel to keep a vigil.

The irony is that these personnel work in two shifts, which means to oversee the security arrangements of around 3,150 inmates, there remains around 90 security personnel on duty for one shift.

Out of 3,150 inmates, around 500 are those who are gangsters and lodged there for committing heinous crimes. The services of those convicted for life are also being used for security purpose.

Superintendent of Jail Shamsher Singh Boparai said he had already written to the higher authorities to increase the strength of the jail staff, so that foolproof security arrangements remain in force. “There is a need to double the strength of the staff, so that checking of inmates and security of jail can be well-maintained. In the present strength, security personnel remain on toes to keep an eye on the entire jail premises,” he said.

Some jail officials, requesting anonymity, said due to the staff crunch, untoward incidents are on the rise. Recently, Jagjit Singh, an accused in a sacrilege case, was badly beaten up by gangsters lodged in the jail. Jagjit had suffered a fracture on his leg and also suffered other injuries. He was beaten up with an iron pipe, which the gangsters uprooted from the bathroom. Prior to this, on the intervening night of June 11 and 12, an undertrial was strangled to death by an inmate. Then, on May 13, two inmates, namely Harwinder Singh and Jasvir Singh, both brothers of Rattanpalon village, near Amloh, in Fatehgharh Sahib, escaped from the jail premises.

These are only a few isolated incidents. Many incidents have taken place in the past, which puts a question mark over the security of the Ludhiana jail.

Factfile

• The jail has 3,150 inmates, including undertrials and convicts, and has only 180 security personnel to keep a vigil
• The irony is that these personnel work in two shifts, which means to oversee the security arrangements of around 3,150 inmates, there remain around 90 security personnel on duty for one shift
• Out of 3,150 inmates, around 500 are those who are gangsters and lodged there for committing heinous crimes
• The services of those convicted for life are also being used for security purpose