Bihar IG asks DMs to fix iron bars in jail windows

The Inspector General of Police (Prisons) has asked district magistrates to repair various jails in the state. This is the second time in less than a month that the IG (Prisons) has raised concerns about jail safety.

Bihar has eight Central, 31 division prisons, and 16 sub-jails. IG (Prisons) Anand Kishore wrote (letter no 3441, dated July 31, 2012) to all DMs stating: "There have been cases of prisoners escaping through some jails because of iron bars in prison wards windows being weak. It is a matter of great concern and total unacceptable with regards to prison safety."

The IG, however, did not specify the number of cases in which prisoners escaped through broken windows during recent months. The IG said the prison department has written to building and construction department to carry out immediate inspection of prison wards to identity weak windows and gates and get these repaired. He drew the DMs' attention towards "repairing and maintenance" fund under which such repair work can be done.

The IG asked DMs to send immediate proposals. The IG also suggested setting up of a panel to prepare a chart of prisons where window bars need to be fitted, replaced or strengthened.

On July 26, Kishore had written to all jail superintendents, giving jail/sub-jail-wise list of vacant positions of home guards. The list showed that 2,096 posts of home guards, already sanctioned, had not been filled.

Eight central jails, which house Maoist leaders, also need immediate postings of home guards.

While Beur Jail, Patna, has 98 vacancies, Gaya, Buxar and Muzaffarpur Central jails have 85, 71 and 77 vacancies of home guards, respectively.

DGP Abhyanand told The Indian Express that he had no knowledge about the two letters. Kishore was not available for comments.

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