The system of justice had evolved over the years to become the legal system we implement today. However, in olden days punishments were too harsh for the crime committed. For instance, a person who committed treason was boiled to death! And if a wilful murder had taken place, relatives of the deceased would kill the murderer in the same way he had committed the crime, under the supervision of a judge! If a builder built a weak house resulting in the death of the owner, the builder could be put to death. For political crimes by leaders it was a punishment of ‘Kala Pani,’ while treason by army men meant they would be thrown in a pit full of crocodiles!
Exhibits
In an effort to educate the public about the old system of law and order and punishments, the officials of the Jail Department put a series of exhibits at the old jail located at the district headquarters. The exhibits include a bronze bell made in London by Lyon and Adams to ring every hour, so that inmates could know the time, wheat flour manufactured by BEMCO, fetters to bind inmates’ hands and legs, a 1901 radio, a plaque with description ‘H.H. The Nizam’s Mint Workshop,’ and several other exhibits. Some more exhibits are expected to arrive at the proposed museum shortly.
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Four benches — two at the exhibition place and two more at the kitchen side and punishment place — were also arranged in the jail so that visitors can take some rest while exploring about the old systems of law and punishment.
This jail has a history of 216 years and was originally a cavalry barrack unit built by Nizams. “Almost all the arrangements are complete and we are waiting for the senior officials in the department to announce the date,” Santosh Kumar Roy, Deputy Superintendent, told The Hindu .