29 more prisoners from Jammu and Kashmir shifted to Agra Central Jail

AGRA: As part of special security measures after the end of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, 29 more prisoners were shifted to Agra Central Jail from the state on Thursday. These high-profile prisoners, booked under the Public Safety Act and lodged in different jails of J&K were brought by a special aircraft to the Kheria airport in Agra from where they were taken to jail amid tight security.
With this, the total number of J&K prisoners transferred to Agra jail has gone up to 85. After defanging of Article 370 on August 5, the first batch of 26 prisoners from the state were shifted on August 9 and 30 more on August 22. According to sources, while a majority of prisoners transferred on Thursday are “pro-Pakistan” separatists, at least 10 of them are reportedly associated with Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
The police vehicles in which the prisoners were taken from the Kheria airbase to the Central jail had their windows covered. The traffic on MG Road was blocked for high-speed movement of the convoy which included two ambulances and SWAT team members.
DIG (Prison, Agra zone) Sanjeev Tripathi said, “A batch of 29 prisoners from Jammu and Kashmir has been transferred to Agra Central Jail. It is not a permanent arrangement and the prisoners have been kept in separate enclosures. Their identity cannot be disclosed due to security reasons.”
Talking to TOI, DIG (Prison) Jammu and Kashmir, Mohamad Sultan Lone, said that his office didn’t have compilation of prisoners shifted from different jails of J&K to other states after August 5. “The transfer of prisoners was made on the orders of higher officials. I don’t have specific information about which prisoner was transferred where. The home department maintains the record in this regard. Prisoners from J&K have been shifted to UP’s prisons of Agra, Varanasi, Bareilly and Ambedkarnagar”.
“The transfer of prisoners is largely a preventive exercise to maintain the law and order situation. Besides, overcrowding is also a problem in prisons of J&K,” he said.
Meanwhile, police and local intelligence unit are keeping a strong vigil around the central jail . Cops are monitoring movements in residential colonies around the jail. Besides visitors for prisoners, staffers are being thoroughly checked at the main entrance.
Two companies of provincial armed constabulary (PAC) have been deployed to take care of security outside the prison. Barriers and check posts have also been set up. Besides, LED street lights have been placed around the central jail and the entire premises of the prison is being monitored from watch towers.
Following high-level security protocol, a new police outpost has been developed in Jagdishpura locality near the Central jail. One dozen policemen, including one sub-inspector, has been placed at the outpost. Police has started night patrolling around the central jail.