Security of more prisons may go to paramilitary force
900 prisoners including top militants lodged
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 18: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today ordered deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for the security of Kot Bhalwal jail housing a large number of militants, both locals and Pakistanis.
“The CISF is expected to takeover security of Kot Bhalwal jail, located here on outskirts of the City, shortly,” officials told the Excelsior.
Previously, there had been reports that Pakistani as well as some Kashmiri militants were running their network from Kot Bhalwal jail using mobile telephones through smuggled devices and SIM cards. Following raids last year, some mobile phones, SIM cards, sharp-edged weapons etc were recovered from the jail premises.
Few days back, the CISF had taken over security of Srinagar jail from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) which also housed a large number of militants including foreigners besides many Public Safety Act (PSA) detenues.
“Kot Bhalwal jail, whose security will be taken over by the CISF from CRPF in next few days, will be second jail in Jammu and Kashmir whose protection will now be the responsibility of the CISF after Srinagar jail,” the officials said.
The CRPF troops spared from the jail protection will be used in the anti-militancy operations, they added.
After involvement of DySP Devender Singh in militancy during his posting at the Airport surfaced, the MHA had handed over security of Jammu and Srinagar airports to the CISF.
Nearly 900 militants are lodged in Kot Bhalwal jail including dreaded militants of different outfits, both locals as well as foreigners, mainly Pakistanis.
The CRPF has been protecting Kot Bhalwal jail for the past quite some time.
As per the officials, security of some more prisons especially those where the militants are lodged, may also be handed over to the CISF later.
However, the role of Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) and staff of Prisons Department will remain intact even after deployment of the CISF.
Few personnel from JKP have been deployed in Kot Bhalwal jail for coordination. Most of the work is manned by the Jail’s own staff.
All formalities have been completed for the CISF to takeover security of Kot Bhalwal jail from the CISF. The takeover is expected to materialize either by the end of this week or start of next week.
The CISF will provide security at the inner as well as outer periphery of Kot Bhalwal jail. It’s personnel will be guarding the jail premise on round the basis.
“Srinagar and Kot Bhalwal jails of Jammu and Kashmir are very sensitive. Several dreaded terrorists and notorious criminals are lodged in these jails. There are over 900 prisoners in Kot Bhalwal and 500 in Srinagar jails,” the officials said..
There are 579 under trials, 353 detenues, and 67 convicts in the Kot Bhalwal jail. Among them, 17 are foreign nationals.
Jammu and Kashmir presently has 12 jails including two Central jails at Kot Bhalwal and Srinagar, eight district jails at Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla and Kupwara, and three sub-jails at Hiranagar, Reasi and Kishtwar. The total capacity for prisoners in these jails is 2,775.
Leh district in the Union Territory of Ladakh also has a district jail. The CISF security umbrella also protects 67 airports, Delhi Metro, important Government buildings and iconic heritage monuments. The CISF has a specialized VIP Security vertical providing round the clock security to important protectees. Post the Mumbai terror attack in November 2008, the mandate of CISF was broadened to provide security cover to private corporate establishments also.
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