Three convicts namely Ibrahim (34), Hakkim (32) and Anwar (30) were shifted from the Coimbatore Central Prison in the small hours to the Intensive Reform Block (IRB) at the Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai, Additional Director-General of Police (Prisons), S.K. Dogra said on Friday.
It may be recalled that a parcel was flung into the Coimbatore Central Prison on Monday (June 25) and the parcel contained contraband such as cellular phone, DVD player, cigarettes, beedi bundles, gutkha packets, DVDs which are banned as per the prison manual. Preliminary inquiries revealed that Ibrahim, Hakkim and Anwar lapped the parcel and ran into their block.
A case has already been registered by the City Police under the provisions of Rule 42 of the Prisoners Act. Prison Administration has already placed three Grade II warders under suspension on charges of collision under Rule 17 B of the Discipline and Appeal Rules. When asked about the need to review and tighten the rules such as Prisoners Act and Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, Mr.Dogra said that in the light of this experience the administration would review all the mechanisms to prevent recurrence of such incident.
The three prisoners have been shifted to the IRB at Puzhal Central Prison. Whenever, a prisoner was found lacking good conduct, the prison authorities used to shift them to another prison. But, this time the prisoners were being shifted to an Intensive Reforms Block.
Talking to reporters, Mr.Dogra said that Intensive Reforms Block is being established in every central prison for specially addressing prisoners who indulge in violations and violent behaviour.
Of the total prisoner population, two per cent of the inmates are found to be rebellious, aggressive and violent, with a tendency to defy orders and commit violations.
These prisoners need to be handled psychologically and emotionally, hence the Intensive Reform Blocks are being established in various central prisons across the state. IRB has various programmes including meditation to change the mindset and attitude of the prisoners and reform them.
Puzhal Central Prison will have the State Intensive Reforms Block for dealing with such prisoners. When asked about upgrading the sub-jails into district jails, Mr.Dogra said that the objective was to turn the ambience of the prisons to turn them into reform centres rather than making them into centres for incarceration or punishment.
On cellular phone signal jammer in prisons, Mr.Dogra said that the jammers had not been effective in prisons in North India and, considering the vast area of prison compound, these jammers may be effective only in a limited area.
