Tihar report to CM seeks more guards,cameras

Sources in the Delhi government said the report had been submitted to the Chief Minister’s office last week. Dikshit had directed jail authorities to prepare the report after Ram Singh,an accused in the December 16 gangrape case,allegedly committed suicide in his cell on March 11,despite being on watch.

Three days later,a 30-year-old woman inmate had allegedly committed suicide in the jail and in May,one inmate died and three others were injured after a violent clash between two factions.

A senior government official told Newsline that the blueprint report recommended an increase in security equipment. “The report talks of the extra number of CCTV cameras,mobile phone jammers and metal detectors required to prevent untoward incidents,” he said. He said the report also mentioned better incentives to wardens who were responsible for security in the jail.

Government sources said the report referred not only to increasing staff members of the psychiatric ward but also spoke of improved training. “The report states staffers in the psychiatric ward,which counsels inmates,needed to be increased while more training could also be arranged for better treatment,” an official said.

Incidentally,Dikshit had earlier also stressed on the need for improved counselling in the jail.

“What we need to do is train people better in counselling inmates. Convicts are usually led to such despair that they end up committing violent acts in jail,” Dikshit had said.