Gujarat tops in parole jumps, rearrests in India: NCRB

Ahmedabad: In 2024, the state prison department recorded 201 inmates absconding during the parole period, accounting for 63% of the country’s total absconding prison inmates (319). Out of the total, 153 or 76% were reported arrested back, again the highest in India accounting for 71.8% of the total arrests in the country. The details were part of the recently released Prison Statistics India (PSI) report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

The report also highlighted that against the capacity of 14,108 inmates, the state prisons held 17,766 inmates, which was 25.9% higher. The number was higher than the national average of 10.8% overcrowding.

Despite the high number of inmates, the report flagged 54% vacancies against the sanctioned posts in Gujarat – against the sanctioned strength of 4,608 for jail staff, the state prisons only had 2,128 present, indicating 54% staff shortage or 2,480 posts vacant. The highest vacancy in executive staff was reported at jailor and deputy jailor levels. The state had about eight inmates per prison staff, the same as national average.

As on Dec 31, 2024, the state prisons had 49 convicts who were awarded capital punishment, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report Prison Statistics India (PSI). The number was the second highest in India after 141 in Uttar Pradesh. The number was higher than 43 in Maharashtra and 35 each in Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, according to the report.

The report also indicated that out of 5,231 convicts in the prisons, 65.2% were behind bars for life imprisonment. In terms of percentage, it was the third highest after 76.1% in Jharkhand prisons, and 71.8% for Telangana prisons. The share was higher than the national average of 55.3%, according to the report.

Out of total inmates in the state prisons, 69.2% were identified as undertrials, 29.4% as convicts, and 1.4% as detainees. The report also indicated that about 90% of the total undertrials and convicts had education up to Class 12. Out of 5,231 convicts, 367 belonged to other states, whereas 32 were from other countries.

Likewise, out of 12,286 undertrials, 1,198 were from other states, and 213 were from other countries. The profile analysis also indicated that 82.4% of the convicts and 92.3% of the undertrials were below 50 years of age.

The PSI report highlighted that the state prisons had two women convicts living with two children behind bars, whereas among the women undertrial prisoners, 30 were living with 39 children.

Among the convicts who were foreign nationals, 26 were from Pakistan – the highest among Indian states – followed by two each from Bangladesh, countries in West Asia, and Nigeria. The nationality of 213 undertrials who were foreign nationals included 87 from Pakistan (the highest among Indian states), 34 from Bangladesh, 29 from African countries including 19 from Nigeria, 29 from countries in West Asia, six from South East Asian countries, and four from Sri Lanka among others.