Vigilance squads to watch on jail staff

Following the instances of murder of an inmate in jail, jail breaks and clashes inside prisons, the state prison administration will soon be setting up covert Vigilance Squads in jails who will not only keep a watch on the activities of inmates, but also on prison officials and staff. Any wrongdoing by the jail staff will be directly communicated to the superiors by the squad. This move was mainly prompted after inmate Manjula Shetye murder case in Byculla Jail.

Speaking to DNA, first Director General of Maharashtra Prisons Department, Bipin Bihari, said, "We will have surveillance not only on undertrials or convicts, but also on our own men, our staff and officials. We would be setting up internal Vigilance Squads within jails. The said squad will keep a watch on whether the staffs are doing their duties diligently. On the basis of inputs of these squads, surprise checks will be conducted and then corrective measures and action will be taken. It will be more of a covert vigilant squad."

Another prison official said: "The squad will prepare a report and give it to the superior officers such as the Inspector General and Director General. Based on the inputs provided, the jail superintendent will be informed to take corrective measures. "The jail staff will not know who the members of the squad are. The purpose of setting up these squads is not only to ensure that corrupt practices are curbed within the jails, but also gather intelligence within them. There have been instances such as gang-wars, clashes among inmates, special treatment given to some inmates, drugs, liquor and mobile phones being smuggled in the jails and jail breaks. The squad would gather intelligence on these aspects and report to superiors," said the official.

"There would be emphasis on more videoconferencing of inmates so that there is minimal use of escorts." he said.