No staff for high security prison!

Bellary: The high security prison meant to lodge hardcore criminals inside Central Prison, Bellary is lying unused. The prison could have helped ease the problem of overcrowding and reduce chances of jailbreaks.

Old cells located near the prison garden were converted into the high security prison in 1994 and it had facilities of surveillance cameras to monitor the movements of the prisoners.

It also has two 360 degree rotating cameras. But, owing to inadequate staff, the prison never came into use, said a senior Prison official on Wednesday.

“There are 60 cells in a row. The entire structure is grilled on the top, making escapes impossible. There is an outer wall of about 18 feet for additional sec­u­rity,” he added.

According to  sources, if the high security prison is put to use, then, it would solve the problem of overcrowding in the Central Prison. The prison has the capacity to accommodate 747 prisoners and high security prison can accommodate 60 of them.”

At present, the High Security Prison is in a bad shape and needs repair before it is put into use. Surveillance cameras are not functional, while the roof is in dilapidated condition in some places. The place has been overgrown with vegetation and needs to be cleared before being put to use. 

A senior officer, when contacted, said, “A proposal to make use of the high security prison was sent to the Department of Prisons in 2011, but nothing substantial happened. We need staff of 1:3 before the Security Prison is used. We needed warders, chief warders, jailors and an Assistant Superin­tendent of Prison.”