In a bid to strengthen security in prisons of the State, Punjab government would be using drones and installing CCTV cameras in the prisons.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who chaired a high-level meeting to review the prison security system, also decided on sending Punjab police intelligence officials on deputation to the Jails Department to assist the staff in collecting intelligence that might be vital to ensuring fool-proof security in jails.
An official statement said the chief minister has asked the Jails Department to formulate a comprehensive strategy to segregate undertrial gangsters and radicals from other prisoners, possibly by shifting them out to other jails outside the state.
"Also, the Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioners to visit the prisons in their respective districts once a month to ensure proper monitoring of the security arrangements and welfare measures there," said the statement.
The ruling Congress government had been facing flak following the recent incidents of the murder of the main accused in the Bargari sacrilege case in Nabha jail as well as a riot in Ludhiana’s central jail.
The Chief Minister ordered all the 700 vacant posts of wardens to be filled without delay.
"While the government is already in the process of recruiting 400 wardens, for which the Finance Department has given approval, the Chief Minister directed immediate clearance by the Department for the filling up of the remaining 300 odd vacancies also," said the statement.
