Bangalore: A proposal has been put forward to the State Government by the Department of Prisons for setting up an exclusive force to man prisons in the State and provide foolproof perimeter security.

Tentatively called the Prison Protection Force, it will be a highly trained and sophisticated wing of the department to take care of any eventuality, including prison breaks and terrorist attacks.

Additional Director-General of Police (Prisons) S.T. Ramesh told The Hindu that the idea of setting up such a force took shape following the escape of several prisoners from the Jehanabad jail. The threat of terrorist attacks on vital installations, the attack on the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, the train blasts in Mumbai and other subversive acts had forced the jail authorities to seek a separate and exclusive force.

Mr. Ramesh said the force, comprising hand-picked personnel, would be specially trained and deployed in districts having central prisons, including Bangalore.

The Prison Protection Force will also be deployed for perimeter security. As of now, it is the police, particularly the City and District Armed Reserve, who look after perimeter security. Prison guards and warders are responsible for security within the prison. Mr. Ramesh said the constitution of the force was expected to cost the exchequer Rs. 3 crore. During emergencies, the force could also be used to supplement security within prisons. However, their main sphere of activity would be to protect prisons.

In recent years this aspect had become very important because many terrorists, naxalites and other anti-social elements were lodged in various jails, which, in most cases, were ill-equipped to handle terrorist attacks or jailbreaks, he said.

Prison officials were hoping for a positive response to the proposal, Mr. Ramesh said. The force would be under the direct command of the Additional Director-General and Inspector-General of Police (Prisons) and would be a highly compact unit of 500 personnel, he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail