Home Minister visits district jail; gather information about of double murder of under trials

Home Minister visits district jail; gather information about of double murder of under trials

www.mangaloretoday.com

Mangaluru, Nov 8, 2015: Home minister G Parameshwar’s maiden visit to the coastal city after taking over the ministry saw him go straight to district jail on Sunday. The visit assumed significance in wake of twin murders of two under trials lodged there on Monday last and also the fact that government has viewed the development as a serious issue. The department of prisons and Mangaluru City Police are carrying out independent inquiry and investigations of the murders.

 

A senior police officer told TOI that Parameshwar was taken aback by the scene at the old prison block with broken tiles strewn around. The under trials lodged at the block, more than a century old had destroyed roof tiles of the barracks to make their way out of their cells in the aftermath of the murders. "We were instructed by our seniors to ensure that crime scene and the old block premises was left uncontaminated for Parameshwar’s inspection," the officer said.

Admitting that scale of problems at the British period district jail was not in sync with present day realities of housing under trials, Parameshwar told reporters later that his visit to the jail was to understand the issues that led to the murders and its aftermath. Asserting that a detailed inquiry by the prisons department is presently on, Parameshwar said plans are afoot to set up on open jail in 40 acres of land near Konaje as an answer to the present woes at the district jail.

Noting that funds will be earmarked for open prison in the forthcoming state budget, Parameshwar said funds will also be provided to set up CCTVs for the old prison block in the coming budget. The existing district jail will be contained to house under trials and the convicts and other hard core criminals could be shifted to the open jail as and when it becomes functional, he said adding mobile jammers too will be made operational at the district jail at the earliest.

The minister also hinted at a relook at the Jail manual that he said was totally outdated. "We need to amend certain rules in the manual and bring it in line with present day realities," Parameshwar said adding he has also taken note of various media reports on the incidents and lacunaes in the prisons system. "All steps will be taken to ensure that the jails are run efficiently and chronic trouble makers are dealt within the ambit of law and scope available to us," he added.

Courtesy: Times of India