Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has said monitoring systems in the prisons will be enhanced to prevent violation of rules.
Speaking to the media here on Saturday, Mr. Radhakrishnan said various changes were being introduced to improve the functioning of the prisons. A control room, functioning round-the-clock, would be established at the headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. The facility would ensure centralised monitoring of all prisons with modern technologies under the super vision of ADGP T.P. Sen Kumar. He said jail inmates creating trouble would be placed under surveillance and a strict ban would be enforced on the use of mobile phones and other prohibited items.
The inmates would be permitted to use the coin box to make phone calls. While convicts would be allowed to make calls worth Rs.150 a month, undertrials would be permitted to make use of the facility up to Rs.100 a month.
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Among jail staff, only employees from jailors to their superiors would be permitted to use mobile phones on the jail premises. For improving the communication network within the jails, wireless sets would be provided. Various measures would be adopted to strengthen internal security of the prisons.
The jail staff would be given training to examine CCTV visuals. Inmates would be permitted to keep only two sets of clothes. He said to prevent hurling of supplies into prison premises, nets would be fixed around the prison periphery and surveillance cameras installed at the usual supply points.
Services of bomb detection squads and mobile detection teams would be employed on a regular basis. Jail officials had been issued orders to maintain decorum towards families visiting the inmates. Visitors would be required to produce either the original of their photo identity cards or copy during visits.
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Referring to arguments raised by Sandhya Suresh, a homemaker, against LDF workers laying siege to the Cliff House in Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Radhakrishnan said the police were left with no other option to ensure security to prevent untoward incidents.
He also opined that the incident must be seen as an eye-opener by all political parties.