Jail authorities have requested the state government for CCTV cameras to keep a tab on inmates lodged at high-security jails and central prisons in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). They also want the state to clear a proposal to instal mobile phone jammers inside prisons. A proposal had been sent to the state government by senior officers of the prisons department to ensure that prisons like the Arthur Road Jail and others,which house a large number of prisoners,must have such equipment in place. A senior officer of the prisons department said although such equipment is routine,jails in the city do not have them. Many high-profile criminals are lodged in the Arthur Road,Byculla,Taloja and Thane jails. We had requested the state government to grant us CCTV cameras so that our officers can keep a tab on the inmates, said an officer who did not wish to be named. The officer said while the prison staff preferred a hands-on approach in maintaining law and order inside jails,it was a security risk as the staff could be overpowered if a riot breaks out. He added that the only time staff carry weapons inside is to quell lawlessness. We need to identify trouble-makers and keep a watch on them. Installing CCTV cameras inside central jails and high-security prisons will help us keep a watch on such elements and also ensure safety of our officers, he said. The authorities have also requested the government for mobile phone jammers. There are instances when those who visit the inmates sneak in mobile phones. We have requested for jammers so that even if an inmate has a mobile phone,it will be of no use. We have to take such steps to ensure that security remains optimum, the officer said. Jail authorities are also planning to send another proposal to the government to get sniffer dogs to form part of their teams. The ability of a sniffer dog to find explosives and narcotics is unmatched. We could do with such help and are planning to send this proposal to the government soon. We hope the government approves the proposal at the earliest, added the officer.
