By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Obsolete weapons, lack of siren system, inadequate man power and open spaces are the sorry state of affairs of Williamnagar jail.
Lack of adequate security in the jail resulted in the loss of two precious lives on February 2 when the jail was attacked by a group of militants.
The magisterial inquiry report by Additional District Magistrate, Williamnagar, MK Marak, has revealed laxity in the security system of the jail.
“In concluding the inquiry and deducing my findings to the incident, it can be stated that the security preparedness is not upto the requirements of present day situation,” the Magistrate said in his report.
According to the Magistrate, it is inevitable that the security arrangements can do nothing best with the available security personnel both by the armed branch of jail and by the Home Guards.
The available infrastructures in jail buildings and premises, absence of training to security personnel, inadequate arms and ammunition, absence of modern appliances will let down the best effort in managing the district jail, Marak said.
The report pointed out that the service arms used by the armed personnel manning the gate and the guards overseeing the prison premises from the towers are found to be obsolete.
“Armed personnel are provided with shotguns and the Home Guards with 303 rifles. Talking of courageous act and commitment to duty is like high sounding articulation. Without any ambiguity all the security personnel replied disconsolately that even with the full strength of securities they would not be in a position to save the situation,” Marak said.
According to the Magistrate, to his disbelief, most of the Home Guard personnel could not make out the difference between the sound of bullet and crackers. It exposes the nature of quality of training imparted to them, he added.
He also pointed out that in the age of advancement in technologies and availability of affordable appliances, the jail is not fitted with siren system. The age old brass made bell was fixed at the outside position next to entry door where the attackers positioned and sprayed bullets to all directions.
“Question is who will ring the bell? The only person who is supposed to attend for task is late Sarai Singh Thabah. Unfortunately, he was shot by the assailants and another available person is the lone sentry in tower number one stationed at the second storey,” the report said.
The Magistrate also said that the business establishments along the PWD road close to the boundary wall at Williamnagar jail is not a healthy trend.
Moreover, Marak said infrastructure like sand bags and bullet-proof steel plates are not placed to protect the security personnel who are manning the jail.
According to the magistrate, there is no security barricades at the main gate, main door or at the jail entry. The security personnel and warder guarding the entry door are completely exposed.
The vulnerable hours between 6 PM and 9 PM was picked by the assailants which indicates they have crystal clear knowledge about the security status. “To our dismay late Sarai Singh Thabah, Warder, was attending duty at the main door alone with no armed security at the entry point,” the report said.
The Magistrate also expressed surprise over the fact that only two armed security personnel from the Home Guards were posted for duty during the day starting from 6 AM to 6 PM.
Moreover, out of the four watch towers in the Jail, at present only two towers are being guarded and other two towers are left unattended due to lack of manpower, he said.
“And, it is more complex when possible entry can be made through some open spaces in four different locations all along the boundary wall,” the report said, adding that it was reported that even stray cattle can sneak into the complex. “It is observed that every night the main entry of the small gate at the jail was kept open till 9 PM and normally closed after 9 PM. Thus, it happened even on the night of incident,” he added.
