Karnataka prisons adopt alphabetical allocation of inmates to dismantle gang networks
In a move aimed at dismantling prison gangs and strengthening transparency in prison administration, Karnataka has introduced a system of allocating prisoners to barracks alphabetically
In a move aimed at dismantling prison gangs and strengthening transparency in prison administration, Karnataka has introduced a system of allocating prisoners to barracks alphabetically instead of housing members of the same gang together, Director-General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Services) Alok Kumar said in Kalaburagi on Friday. Kumar, who visited the Central Prison in Kalaburagi to review security following the escape of three inmates on July 14, described the measure as a first-of-its-kind initiative. “We are allocating all prisoners as per their names, alphabetically. Earlier, six or seven members of the same gang would often be housed in one barrack, allowing the same activities and mindset to continue inside prison. Now they are distributed alphabetically, and this gang culture has been dismantled,” he told reporters after a nearly four-hour inspection of the prison, adding that the system would also eliminate allegations of favouritism in the allotment of barracks and privileges to inmates. Kumar said the department had taken the recent prison escape seriously.
Of the three inmates who escaped, two had already been recaptured jointly by the Kalaburagi and the Bidar police, while efforts are on to trace the third escapee, Mastan of Islampur village in Bidar district. During the inspection, the DGP examined barracks, the prison compound wall, barbed-wire fencing. and the spot from where the inmates had escaped. He also reviewed the overall security arrangements and directed prison officials and personnel of the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF) to introduce additional security measures and rectify deficiencies. He said several prison officials, including the Chief Superintendent of the Central Prison, Rakesh Kamble, had already been placed under suspension in connection with the escape. Night-duty staff had been instructed to remain vigilant. Kumar expressed concern over recurring prison escapes, saying he had obtained data for the past 16 years and found that inmates had escaped almost every year. He also said that after the transfer of the previous Chief Superintendent following his assumption of office as DGP, another officer posted to Kalaburagi had not reported for duty and had remained on leave for nearly four months.
Correctional Services Emphasising prison reforms, Mr. Kumar said correctional services would receive greater attention in Karnataka prisons. “Instead of being purely retributive, we have to focus on rehabilitation, reintegration and reformation of prisoners,” he said. He said inmates were being provided psychological counselling, vocational training, yoga, meditation and pranayama in all prisons, while Vipasana meditation had also been introduced in some prisons to bring about behavioural change and reduce the chances of released prisoners returning to crime. 37 years in prison Referring to the case of Saibanna Natikar, a native of Mandewal village in Jewargi taluk who was released recently after spending 37 years in prison, Mr. Kumar said the department had introduced a post-release monitoring mechanism to track the rehabilitation of prisoners released on the basis of good conduct. “He is perhaps the longest-serving prisoner in India. We want to ensure that prisoners released for good behaviour continue on the right path and do not relapse into crime.
The BriefWire