Segregate terrorists from ordinary prisoners: Centre tells states

Terrorists lodged in prisons are “indoctrinating” petty criminals to bring them to their fold and use them in their nefarious designs, the Centre has said and suggested state governments and union territories that there is a need for their segregation from ordinary inmates.

The Home Ministry’s suggestion has come in the wake of reports received from central security agencies.

In a letter to all state governments and union territories, the Ministry said there is an immediate need to decongest the jails by setting up security prison for terror accused outside the city.

“If that is not feasible, then very high risk prisoners and other undertrial prisoners under the category of terrorist/ security suspects are required to be segregated effectively from the ordinary prisoners within the complex of central and district jails,” wrote Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Kumar Alok.

The ministry said the level of security within a prison has to be categorised in terms of risk to prisoners for better security, strict 

monitoring of activities of visitors as well as prisoners inside the jail premises and also in transit outside.