Jail security worries district officials

The New Indian Express, April 1, 2007

BHAWANIPATNA: Even as the board of visitors, headed by the Collector, has expressed concern over the poor security and staff crunch in the district headquarters jail, nothing much has been done to address these problems.

According to sources, only 28 warders are present, as against a strength of 40, to look after 408 convicts and undertrials.

This apart, while the average age of prisoners is 25, that of the jail staff stands at 48. This has raised question mark about the efficacy of the jail staff in meeting eventualities.

Recently, the board of visitors at a meeting suggested strengthening the security system and deploying police guards in front of the gate and around the jail. At present, the jail authorities have been forced to engage some senior convicts on the ‘wall guard’ duty.

Yet another problem for the authorities is the presence of 17 prisoners having serious psychiatric disorders and one prisoner with schizophrenia problems in the jail. Some prisoners, on condition of anonymity, admitted that living with prisoners with psychic problems, was not an easy job and at times, it affected their own mental peace.

Contacted, Jail Superintendent Dasarathi Sarangi said higher authorities had been apprised of the matter regarding strengthening of staff and security. The authority has also been moved for transfer of psychiatric patients to Circle Jail.