Odisha jails set to get infrared thermometers

BHUBANESWAR: The prisons directorate has sanctioned nearly Rs 9 lakh for purchase of infrared red (IR) thermometers in the 85 jails in the state to conduct thermal screening of employees and prisoners. Major jails in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have already purchased the IR thermometers.
“We have sanctioned Rs 10,000 to each jail. They can purchase at least two IR thermometers as each device comes at around Rs 5,000. The IR thermometers will be used to scan body temperature without touching them. The gadget is essential to screen new under-trial prisoners (UTPs), who come to jails after being arrested regularly,” director general of police (prisons) Santosh Upadhyay said.
The prisons DGP has instructed jails in red zones, including Ganjam, Berhampur, Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur to properly screen accused persons, who are being sent to the judicial custody by courts. “We are in touch with chief district medical officers to conduct Covid-19 test on inmates, who show flu symptoms. Some inmates have already undergone Covid test. All tested negative,” Upadhyay said.
So far, not a single prisoner nor jail staff has been tested positive in the state. The prisons directorate initiated a number of measures to keep prevent spread of Covid-19 virus in the jail premises. “We started the decongestion of jails nearly 40 days ago. At least 7255 inmates (both UTPs and convicts) have been released from jails on bail, parole and special furlough from March 20 till May 12. We ensured that the jails stay less crowded,” Upadhyay said.
Official statistics said the capacity of 85 jails is 19,016. At present, the population in the jails is 16,931. After release of 7255 inmates in last one and half months, at least 4,000 new UTPs were added to the population.
Notably, a three-member high-powered committee having chairman of Odisha state legal services authority, state home secretary and DGP (prisons) as members earlier finalised modalities of decongestion of convicts and UTPs in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. The committee reportedly asked the police to not make arrests in petty cases these days as this may lead to congestion in jails. While nearly 5,800 UTPs used to be sent to judicial custody across the state in a month earlier, the inflow of accused persons has now been reduced to nearly 3,500 per month.