DoPM officials fear that there could be a series of jail breaks as over half of the total 74 prisons across the country are in a critically dilapidated state. Many of these prison houses do not even have security fences -- let alone other basic security standards. [break]
“The inmates have been honest so far,” argued a DoPM official, who served as a jailer in over half a dozen prisons in various parts of the country. “Inmates can easily make a flight from prisons if they wish given the poor security arrangements in prisons.”
DoPM officials say a large number of prisons date back to 200 years. They were originally built for residential purpose and are in no way suitable for keeping inmates.
Moreover, with a sharp increase in the number of inmates for past one year things have turned worse. The number of inmates has reached well over 9,500 in recent months against a total of 6,000 prisoners on an average until a year ago.
“This makes it practically difficult for a jailer to keep an eye on inmates three times over the actual capacity of the jail,” argued another official, requesting anonymity.
As many as 17 prisons were destroyed during the Maoists insurgency and are still under construction. The Department of Urban Development and Building Construction under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works has taken up the construction works.
In the third case of jailbreak in the past six months on Friday night, eight inmates fled from Kapilvastu prison by digging a tunnel with knives, sickles, spatulas and ladles.
In June, 2009 security personnel had gunned down one of the three prisoners to foil their attempt to escape from Rasuwa prison. “Security vigilance of course matters a lot,” said the official, adding, “However, the jails can not be secured unless they have good infrastructures.”
DoPM official complained that their request for budget to renovate prisons has gone largely unheard.
According to Director General Yam Kumari Khatiwada, the DoPM, however, was allocated Rs 100 million this fiscal for construction and repair of jails after several requests in writing. “But this is hardly enough for the purpose,” she said.
Khatiwada said DoPM is currently working to develop regional level prisons in all five development regions to ease the problem of accommodating the ever increasing number of inmates. Especial considerations will be taken to ensure security measures in the prisons.
While eastern regional prison in Jhumka, Sunsari has already come into operation, construction of another regional prison in Bhimphedi, Makawanpur is currently underway. “We plan to construct regional level prisons in three other development regions as well,” she added.
koshraj@myrepublica.com
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