CCTVs, mobile jammers, model TIP room part of 'vision 2007' at Tihar

New Delhi, Jan 31 (UNI) The long awaited 'mobile jammers' to curb mobile usage within Tihar Jail premises, Close-Circuit Televisions for monitoring prison inmates' movement and a brand new complex to house 3,500 prisoners form a part of the grand 'Vision 2007' plan of the Delhi Prisons.

''While the CCTV installation, that would help improve surveillance at the Asia's largest prison housing more than 14,000 inmates, will be ready by the end of May, bringing 'jammers' would be another 'top priority' for us during 2007,'' said Director General (Prisons) B K Gupta at the annual press conference here today.

The IT-based system, linked to a central coup, put in all the jails would be an important step towards monitoring of the inmates as well as the conduct of the jail staff, Mr Gupta informed.

''A model 'Test Identification Parade' room, where an identifier can see the suspects but cannot be watched by them will soon be introduced. This would help not just in the security of the witnesses but also bring secrecy to the system which is very important.'' This will be over within one year, he said.

''Besides this, an ideal 'Visitor's Room' facility where jail inmates and visitors could sit almost face-to-face, which at present is only at Jail No 3, will also be extended to the other jails by year-end.'' Also, work on the Mandoli Jail, which would house more than 3,500 prisoners, would start by June this year and be completed in a couple of years time. Though work on this had been stalled for the past two years but this year the construction on it would begin on a war footing by all means, said the DG.

Jails are also being planned at Narela and Baprola along with a proposal to hold 'special courts' for prisoners facing offences in which sentence is upto seven years imprisonment for plea bargaining, Mr Gupta said adding that ''An additional proposal to offer wages to all prisoners put to labour in jail was also on the anvil.'' UNI