In the past couple of months, the Telangana State Prisons and Correctional Services Department has unveiled ambitious plans to reform jails.
These included attempts to introduce learning in prisons – where nearly 80 per cent inmates are illiterate – through the ‘vidyadanam’ schemes, and self-sufficiency through better marketing of articles produced by prisoners. Already, six teams of officials had visited prisons in Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat, Bihar and Rajasthan to study ‘best practices’ there and replicate them in the State.
But while serious efforts are on to give jails a makeover, the recent seizure of mobile phones, SIM cards and ‘ganja’ from Cherlapally Central Prison presents a different picture.
Apparently, these articles could not have been brought inside the prison without the help of ‘insiders’. Naturally, questions like “who’s responsible?”, “what action was taken?” and “how can one ensure such illegal activities don’t recur?” are raised.
Interestingly, the department has not punished any jail staffer, subscribing to the view that suspensions are not the solution. But the fact remains that this was not the first time mobile phones, or other gadgets have been recovered.
A few months ago, an organised racket of ‘ganja’ smuggling – through prisoners coming to Gandhi Hospital for medical check-up – was busted. Sometimes, even cash was seized from jail inmates.
On the one hand, prison authorities continue to dilly-dally on proposed plans to install mobile phone signal jammers in prisons citing the costs, and disturbances to people living around. On the other, they prefer not to act against erring or corrupt personnel, and fail to explain how such persons can be deterred from abetting illegal activities. Surely, prison officials urgently need to reform their personnel, along with the jails as a whole.
Could swift action have saved the day?
Did the failure of the police to act swiftly in the recent gang rape of a woman at Pahadishareef help the accused evade investigators for long?
Some police officers believe so, citing the sequence of events after the victim first knocked the doors of the police after being sexually assaulted, allegedly by Faisal Dayani and his associates, while she was spending time with her fiancé in a farmhouse.
Though the case was reported on July 31, the police failed to take serious note, some Cyberabad police officials say, presuming it to be a ‘false case’.
Time and again the police top brass have been directing Station House Officers to issue First Information Reports immediately on receiving a complaint and take up investigation, especially when serious charges are made.
Police sources say the local police were aware of the criminal background of the two members of the Faisal gang, but failed to apprehend and question them. This acted as an alert to the other absconding members of the gang. They apparently went into hiding, trying not to leave behind any clues.
It was only eight days after the ghastly crime that the trio were arrested by police, while three others surrendered before a local court later.
Main accused Faisal Dayani was nabbed, along with two of his associates, 23 days after the case was registered.
Moreover, the police have failed to seize mobile phones from all the accused. The data collected from the phones could provide crucial evidence against them as the case is about filming the victim when she was semi-clad and gang raping her after threatening to upload her pictures and videos on a social networking site.
