Arunachal set to take charge of Tezu jail

ITANAGAR: Following the jailbreak incident at Chowkham police outpost in Lohit district on July 19, when 18 under trials escaped from custody, the Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to take over the district jail at Tezu from the CRPF, a source said on Thursday.
The 186 battalion of the central police force had been using the jail in Lohit district as its base till now.However, the jailbreak incident last month had raised questions about the competency of police and judicial system in the district. To address these issues, the state government decided to take over the prison.
In the first phase, the charge of some units meant for juveniles, women and mentally retarded has been handed over to the Arunachal Pradesh Prison Authority. Radhe Olley has been posted as jailer.
Recently, IGP (Prison) J K Sharma had an elaborate meeting with the district commissioner and superintendent of police regarding the transfer of the jail's duties, sources said.
"The jail needs some important renovation as the main door and other minor infrastructure are not adequate to accommodate prisoners. In the first phase, the prison will provide accommodation to 20 detainees and the rest would be taken up in the second phase," the jailer said.
When asked about the shifting of the unit, CRPF assistant commandant J H Mandal said the jail complex was renovated keeping in mind the needs and comfort of the battalion and not prisoners.
"Several structures were built within the jail complex to provide comfortable living conditions to officials, general force and to store artillery and other requisite equipment. It will take months to shift these equipment. At Namsai, where the battalion is being reallocated, infrastructure is inadequate. It lacks space and other essential amenities. We have to build everything there and this requires phase-wise shifting, which is not an easy task," he said.
A source said in the second phase, which will begin from the first week of January, full occupancy of the jail will would be made possible. The lone full-fledged district jail, built in 1987, has fortified infrastructures including two separate isolated cells. There are provisions to accommodate hardcore criminals, juveniles, women, VIPs and other types of criminals.
In addition, there is well-furnished infrastructure for jail employees. The jail complex is large with well-built 18-feet high boundary walls with 3 different circle points for inmates guarded by a 10-ft concrete wall.
CM Nabum Tuki, who also holds the home portfolio, has asked the prison department to take over the district jail.