72 UP jails to come under 24x7 CCTV surveillance

Concerned after alleged nexus between inmates and prison staff was revealed in Chitrakoot and Bareilly jails, the UP Prisons and Reformatory Services has ordered round-the-clock CCTV surveillance of 72 jails and sub-jails in the state. The move aims to ensure round-the-clock monitoring of the “Top 10 Criminals” and their henchmen stationed in each prison.

Director General (DG)-Prisons Anand Kumar on Friday asked the Inspector Generals and Heads of all jails to submit compliance certificates within three days to ensure that CCTV cameras are installed in their respective jails. Live feed from CCTV cameras is available from the department headquarters in Lucknow. CCTV cameras must be installed in high-security barracks, meeting rooms where prisoners meet their family members and relatives and other important places in prisons, the order said.

Kumar also directed that the guidelines in the prison manual must be strictly followed when prisoners meet their family and relatives. “Prison authorities must properly check visitors' photo IDs and should inform district police authorities if any person repeatedly visits prisoners on the 'top 10 criminals list'.” The Directorate General has added personal cameras to 15 prisons.

The arrest of Abbas Ansari's wife, Nikhat Ansari, and her driver on February 11 revealed a nexus between criminals and local prison authorities, who allowed family members and henchmen of the ex-husband easy access to prisons. In many cases, prisoners were allowed to operate from behind bars. Abbas's wife was arrested from prison, and her two mobile phones and food were confiscated. Her entry was not recorded in the records.

A similar case emerged in Bareilly jail where two persons, including a jail warden, were arrested for allegedly facilitating secret meetings and providing banned materials and money to former MP Atiq Ahmad's younger brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf. Police on Tuesday arrested jail canteen contractor Daya Ram alias Nanhe and Warden Shiv Hari Awasthi for facilitating Ashraf's clandestine meetings on March 7 in the jail premises.

Earlier on February 19, the state government had asked for a list of top 10 criminals housed in every jail in the state. CCTV cameras are currently being installed and upgraded in 30 prisons.