After Bhopal jailbreak, prisons to get new locks

BHOPAL: After the jailbreak by eight SIMI suspects from Bhopal Central Jail,

prison authorities

have decided to change the entire locks of the jails. Similarly, as a precautionary measure the authorities also decided to change the locks of all jails in the state in the future.

These locks costing around Rs 1,100 each are of eight levers and it is for the first time, that non-Aligarh made locks-are being used in Bhopal Central Jail.

This is an immediate measure, as the locks were needed immediately, the process for purchase of other locks will be taken later, said officials.There are around 70 barracks in the jail and even if only locks of the entire barracks are changed, around 250 locks will be required.

"We have changed the locks of high security cells as an immediate measure. The process for procurement is also being decentralised and the locks if needed by all the jails of the state can be procured by them on their own," DG Jail,

Sanjay Chaudhary

told TOI."The process for buying the locks is a continuous process and it used to go on yearly basis. But now it will be made at local levels," Chaudhary said.

Sources said these locks are heavy and big in size and on an average around 3,000 locks in jails situated across the state would be changed in due course of time.

The locks that were recently provided to the Bhopal Central Jail are of Godrej, but prior to these locks the officials also tried another design of lock that was equipped with magnetic keys but those locks were not fitting in the barracks so, these locks of 8 lever were purchased, said sources.The purchase was made through the central purchase committee of the jail department.

After the jailbreak by

SIMI suspects jail

officials said they escaped after opening locks using keys made from tongue cleaner and toothbrush. Seventeen such keys were also recovered from the cells during inspection.