Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan announced in the Assembly on Thursday that a high level team would enquire into the jail-break in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for Police and Jails, the Minister said that the team probing the jail-break would have the Principal Secretary (Home), Director General of Police and Additional Director General of Police (Jails) as members.
The team would submit its report security measures needed against the background of the escape of death-row prisoner Jayanandan in ten days. The team members would also visit other jails and submit their recommendations for improving security in three months.
Mr. Radhakrishnan recalled that Jayanandan had broken out of jail in 2010 also. However, weaknesses in jail security remained. Eight jail staff had been suspended over the escape of the prisoner and efforts were being taken to apprehend the convict.
The Minister also announced that Additional Director General of Police (South Zone) M. K. Hemachandran would enquire into the allegation that a personal staff member of the Chief Minister had helped Saritha S. Nair, accused of swindling money by promising solar power units.
Mr. Radhakrishnan said that crime rates had fallen between 2011 and 2012 as per report of the Crime Records Bureau. The number of cognisable offences registered in 2012 totalled 1.58 lakh against 1.77 lakh in the previous year.
He said that the strength of police force would be increased by five per cent a year. A special unit under an inspector general of police would be set up to handle complaints connected to non-resident Keralites. Help desks for women would be set up in police stations with ICT facilities. The number of women police sub inspectors and constables would be increased with a view to check atrocities against women. Victim liaison officers would be appointed to help victims of serious crimes.
He said that cameras for traffic monitoring would be set up in all municipalities in three months. CCTVs would be set up in Kochi city with private participation. The police would also establish a crime and criminal tracking system and mobile digital units. Coastal security would be brought under an Additional Director General of Police.
He said that the government would examine starting of more units of Student Cadet Core. The working of the cyber police would be stepped up as the State now had about three crore mobile phones.
After the Minister’s reply, the House passed the demands for grants totalling Rs. 1466 crore.
