By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: GNLA chief Champion Sangma’s entry into Shillong jail has prompted the jail authorities to install as many as 20 CCTV cameras in the jail premises.
The decision to this effect was taken at a board meeting held on Monday and the process to install the CCTV cameras in the Jail premises has been initiated, said Kulbir Krishan, Director General (prisons).
Though there was a thinking on the part of Home (jail) department to install CCTV cameras soon after the Shillong jail break of May 31, 2009, it has not materialized . As many as seven under trial prisoners led by the gang leader, Fullmoon Dhar had effected the jail break.
Several probe reports prepared in the aftermath of the jail break had suggested the need to install CCTV cameras and the fund constraints was one of the factors for the delay.
The entry of Champion into the high security cell has forced the authorities to initiate the process of installation of CCTV cameras, he said.
According to the official, the CCTV will be installed only in the jail premises and not inside the barracks to protect the privacy of the prisoners.
The CCTV cameras will be monitored round the clock primarily aimed at preventing any jail break.
There have been as many as 30 jail break cases since 1991 and the largest number of prisoners escaped was in December 26 2001 in Williamnagar when all 32 prisoners effected a jail break.
It was in 1995 that the HNLC leaders, Cheristarfield Thangkhiew and Bobby Marwein along with a group of Naga militants escaped from the Shillong jail.
However, besides the plan to install CCTV cameras, security has been beefed up in Shillong jail to prevent any jail break in the aftermath of the entry of the GNLA leader.
