High-resolution cameras to be set up at Ghaghidih jail

Security system at Ghaghidih Central Jail is all set to go hi tech as the jail administration has started installation of high resolution surveillance cameras across the prison.

According to information about 156 new CCTV cameras are being installed at the central jail in addition to the 24 surveillance cameras already existed there. Of the 156 surveillance cameras, 68 cameras are revolving. Presently, only four of the existing cameras are revolving.

Superintendent, Ghaghidih Central Jail, Satyendra Chaudhury said that the new CCTV cameras are being installed by Jharkhand Agency for Promotion of Information Technology (JAP-IT). “CCTV camera is being install from Wednesday and will be completed by the end of April. The surveillance cameras are being put up at the strategic locations, including at the administrative building, jail gate and also in the prison wards,” Chaudhury.

Spread over 20 acres of land, the Ghaghidih Central Jail has a prisoners’ capacity of 1,447. “The new cameras will help us to keep strict vigil. The CCTV cameras that have been supplied to the central jail are far more effective. These camera can cover the images from 200 metres away, but the effective range is 100 metres,” said a senior official.

“There is a total of 11 trained jail guards, including three female ones. In addition, there are 65 hired security guards, including ex-servicemen and Home Guard personnel. As per the sanctioned strength, there must be 212 guards, that too trained ones, but we have to manage with just 76,” said the official. He pointed out in view of the inadequate security guards here, the installation of the CCTV camera would enhanced the jail security.

As the jail is equipped with two-G jammers and the number of CCTV cameras was too few to cover all the areas in the prison, illegal activities would be carried out by the jail inmates regularly.

Moreover, the district administration had in July last year recovered 33 cellphones, including 12 smart phones and 15 mobile chargers by conducting a surprise raid. Recovery of so many cellphones and cellphone accessories indicated that these gadgets were being smuggled into the prison easily.

Notably, the Ghaghidih Central Jail is spread over an area of 20 acres — set up on as large an area as Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar, Ranchi.  The home department had conducted a survey of the jail in June 2009 before the recommendation for fixing mobile jammers in the jail. Sources went on to inform that concerned over the situation at the jail the administration has plans to step up vigilance and deploy additional security forces.