Tihar is world's largest jail, and 20 suicides last decade

, March 11: Tihar jail in one of the largest prison complex in the world. Till 1958, the national capital had a small jail at Delhi Gate area, near Kotla cricket ground. The prison was shifted to Tihar Village in west New Delhi in 1958 and came to be known as

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It has nine prisons with around 11000 prisoners, double the numbers that it was meant to host.

Overcrowding leads to various crimes inside the jail itself. This could be reason for 20 suicides in the last 12 years. Two suicides were reported in 2012.

One of the riskiest times for prison suicides is near the time of the court appearance.

The Delhi government says mentally ill prisoners at Tihar Jail are treated by the prison's department of psychiatry, which has a 150-bed hospital.

Delhi gangrape accused Ram Singh hanged himself from the grill of his cell in Jail No 3 using his clothes early this morning, jail officials said.

It is considered India's most secure prison with three-layered security system. Surveillance and external security is with the personnel of ITBP and CRPF followed by Tamil Nadu Special Police which man various gates and frisk visitors.

The jail has adopted several forward looking projects like solar energy use and sale of goods made by prisoners at well-known retail outlets.

OneIndia News