Shimoga Jail Authorities Tighten Screws After Suicide Bid by Inmates
SHIMOGA: All may not be well at the Shimoga district jail. A pointer to this is the recent suicide attempt by six undertrials.
The incident occurred on the evening of May 23, when six undertrials attempted to take their own life.
Officials from the district administration recently unearthed that jail staff have been supplying mobile phones, SIM cards, cigarettes and drugs to the inmates.
Most of the jail staff have been working here for many years. This has led to a nexus between them and the inmates.
The six inmates who attempted to take their own lives by consuming phenyl, were opposed to the decision to shift some inmates to other jails in the state.
Following this incident, the Superintendent of Police, judges and other officials made a surprise visit to the jail and found mobile phones, SIM cards and cigarettes inside.
Since then, the Police Department have kept a strict vigil on people visiting the jail to meet undertrials, and also on the activities happening in and around the premises.
This has frustrated the inmates who are resorting to suicide as a form of protest.
“We have brought this incident to the notice of the ADGP and IGP of the Department of Jails. We recommended that six prisoners be shifted from this jail. There is a shortage of staff too,” said I G Myageri, the district jail superintendent.
Help is being sought from Home Guards to bolster manpower in the jail.
Now, it has been made necessary for visitors to produce Identity Cards and address proofs, which are scrutinised, before they are allowed to meet inmates, he added.
Talking about the incident which happened last Friday, Superintendant of Police Koushalendra Kumar said police personnel are keeping a vigil on the activities in and around the jail.
Whatever information the department receives will be shared with the Department of Jails.
An FIR will be filed in this matter, he said.