‘Mechanism good,needs to be implemented’

This is an exception. We take advice from CID,Crime Branch and intelligence agencies. In this case,Mumbai and Navi Mumbai Crime Branch had no inkling. This incident has taught us that there needs to be an internal,independent system among prisons for intelligence collection and sharing.

Is a change needed in the security protocol inside state jails?

The existing mechanism doesn’t need much change,implementation is much desired. There were two checks — one where Devendra Jagtap should have been checked at the main gate immediately after he entered the prison premises,and the second when he entered the high-security area or even the circle around it. None of them was conducted.

What is the progress on CCTVs,phone jammers & metal detectors?

Earlier,hand-held detectors were used. Now,we have introduced metal detector frames. High-security jails including Taloja,Arthur Road and Thane are installing CCTVs. One mobile phone jammer was installed in Arthur but it failed and was removed. In Taloja,we are introducing 10 jammers.

What about overcrowding?

Currently,we are short-staffed and have 15 per cent vacancies in jails across the state. We can handle the prisons much better with 100 per cent manpower and are waiting for more sanction from the state.

Are you going to deploy escorts from prison manpower?

A suggestion has been made by the DGP. I agree with him that nexus is developed with police getting access to inmates. Though no other state has prison staff escorting inmates but as an experiment we might deploy staff for escorting in Satara jails.