‘Suicides’ force Tihar to review security set up
19 March 2013 7:05 AM IST
With two suicides having been committed at the Tihar jail within a week, security at the high-profile prison is under the scanner.
While Ram Singh, the main accused in the 16 December gang rape in the capital was found dead in his cell on 11 March, a 30-year-old female inmate at the prison who was facing a kidnapping charge was found hanging on 14 March. The twin suicides yet again highlight the sorry state of security at Tihar.
Questions over the security arrangement at the prison came in thick and fast after the Delhi gang rape case prime accused, Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide in his cell. 33-year-old Singh was found hanging, from a rope made out of his clothes in Jail No 3 at approximately 5 am on 11 March. According to sources in Tihar, he had recently been removed from 'suicide watch' a few weeks ago. The 33 year-old, along with the other four accused in the case, were put on 'suicide watch' after they stopped talking to other inmates and even among themselves. While there are 200 CCTV cameras across Tihar, India's highest-security prison, there are none that cover individual cells. According to jail authorities, Singh had been placed in the ‘ordinary security’ category, so did not receive any special surveillance.
The incident had raised questions about the safety of inmates inside Tihar, with conspiracy theories being raised by some.
Many felt that it would not have been possible for Singh to have hung himself, without help.
Jail authorities have beefed up security after the incident, with the introduction of body scanners, more mobile jammers and more CCTV cameras on the prison premise.
Director General Vimla Mehra has said stress is being laid on the rehabilitation of the prisoners, along with beefing up security on the premises. She has also said new initiatives like mobile jammers, full body scanners for better security have been introduced, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu police force.
'Twenty one mobile jammers have been installed in the jail premises in addition to the existing eleven mobile Jammers. These jammers have been upgraded to block the 3G technology. X-Ray scanners have also been installed in all the jails, and all the articles brought to the prisoners by their relatives are being scanned,' said a jail official.
Another official said, 'Full human body scanners are the latest addition in the security mechanism of the prison, but they are yet to be installed in all the jails. These scanners will ensure that inmates are not able to smuggle prohibited articles like, drugs, mobile phones, currency notes and arms and ammunitions inside the prison.’
While Ram Singh, the main accused in the 16 December gang rape in the capital was found dead in his cell on 11 March, a 30-year-old female inmate at the prison who was facing a kidnapping charge was found hanging on 14 March. The twin suicides yet again highlight the sorry state of security at Tihar.
Questions over the security arrangement at the prison came in thick and fast after the Delhi gang rape case prime accused, Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide in his cell. 33-year-old Singh was found hanging, from a rope made out of his clothes in Jail No 3 at approximately 5 am on 11 March. According to sources in Tihar, he had recently been removed from 'suicide watch' a few weeks ago. The 33 year-old, along with the other four accused in the case, were put on 'suicide watch' after they stopped talking to other inmates and even among themselves. While there are 200 CCTV cameras across Tihar, India's highest-security prison, there are none that cover individual cells. According to jail authorities, Singh had been placed in the ‘ordinary security’ category, so did not receive any special surveillance.
The incident had raised questions about the safety of inmates inside Tihar, with conspiracy theories being raised by some.
Many felt that it would not have been possible for Singh to have hung himself, without help.
Jail authorities have beefed up security after the incident, with the introduction of body scanners, more mobile jammers and more CCTV cameras on the prison premise.
Director General Vimla Mehra has said stress is being laid on the rehabilitation of the prisoners, along with beefing up security on the premises. She has also said new initiatives like mobile jammers, full body scanners for better security have been introduced, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu police force.
'Twenty one mobile jammers have been installed in the jail premises in addition to the existing eleven mobile Jammers. These jammers have been upgraded to block the 3G technology. X-Ray scanners have also been installed in all the jails, and all the articles brought to the prisoners by their relatives are being scanned,' said a jail official.
Another official said, 'Full human body scanners are the latest addition in the security mechanism of the prison, but they are yet to be installed in all the jails. These scanners will ensure that inmates are not able to smuggle prohibited articles like, drugs, mobile phones, currency notes and arms and ammunitions inside the prison.’
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