Drones to be ‘third eye’ of prison officials in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: After X-ray machines and jammers, drones will soon be deployed to tighten security arrangements in nine central prisons.
The government on Monday announced that it would procure drones fitted with cameras at a cost of Rs 21.85 lakh for nine prisons for men. “Drones would be deployed to check movements of inmates on the premises of the central prisons and to check for smuggling of contrabands,” said minister for law, court and prisons C Ve Shanmugam in the policy note, tabled on Tuesday. “We will deploy the drones whenever the situation arises. It will be our third eye to check on unwanted activities on the premises. The video recorded would be transmitted to the prison control room,” said a senior prison official.
Apart from this, the government announced installation of 12 upgraded jammers in the central prisons to block 4G network. The government has sanctioned Rs 10.10 crore for installing 12 cell phone jammers in central prisons I and II in Puzhal, and in Madurai, Palayamkottai, Trichy and five special prisons for women.
Though jammers were installed a year ago in high-risk blocks in central prisons at Rs 5 crore, the Centre had given licence to jam only 3G network. After the 4G network came into place, existing jammers became irrelevant. Last month, the Centre gave the licence to jam 4G network.
Acting on the report submitted by amicus curiae R Vaigai, a senior advocate told the high court the government will improve sanitation facilities in all central prisons and special prisons for women at Puzhal and Trichy at Rs 12.41 crore. Officials said they will renovate existing facilities.
Open air facilitiess will be established in all central prisons, except Puzhal-II. Singanallur in Coimbatore, Salem and Purasadai Udaipu in Sivaganga district have such facilities now.