Violence fallout: Central jail to get CRPF company in a week

Ludhiana: The Ludhiana Central Jail that witnessed bloody violence four days ago may get a company of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in about a week. It will beef up the frail security structure of the prison.
June 27’s violence had raised questions over the skeletal staff deployed at the high security jail. On June 26, a day before the violence, the ministry of home affairs had sanctioned three CRPF companies for Ludhiana, Amritsar and Bathinda jails with immediate effect. With the sanction, the Centre had responded to the Punjab government’s request made last year for breaking the nexus between the jail officials and prisoners.
Ludhiana jail superintendent Shamsher Singh Boparai said though they were yet to get written intimation, higher authorities have told them that the company would be deployed within a week. He added that they would make proper arrangements for the company once they get the intimation. “CRPF personnel will be of immense help in improving the security system at the jail,” he added.
Jail officials said around three CRPF personnel were expected to be deployed at the gate, eight on patrol duty and as many in the high security wards, which had been more vulnerable to violence in the past. Sources said the authorities were planning to deploy about eight personnel at the towers to keep a watch on the movement of prisoners and also on the activities outside the jail. They said CRPF men would help in checking the movement of drugs and cellphones inside the jail.
“As of now we have around 3,200 prisoners and just 40 jail staffers on eight hours shift, which is not enough. We have half the deployment both for patrolling along the 3.5km jail and at vital points, including main door and high security areas,” said an officer.
“The shortage of staff affects the security and recent violence can be attributed to it,” said former DGP Shashi Kant.
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State to pay
The Punjab government will have to pay for the deployment of CRPF companies. To strengthen the security of jails, Punjab’s additional chief secretary for home NS Kalsi had written a demi-official letter to the Union home secretary on October 8, 2018, raising a demand for CRPF deployment in state jails.