State Govt mulls new prison away from city centre

SHILLONG: The State government is contemplating constructing a central jail in a different location in the city.
The Home (Jails) Department has been asked to search for land to construct a standard jail with all facilities, sources said.
The sources said the idea of constructing a new central jail has been mooted as most of the district jails, including the Shillong district jail, are crowded. Another reason to have a well-equipped prison is to avoid jailbreaks.
There had been several incidents of jailbreaks in the State. In 2009, a notorious criminal, Fullmoon Dhar, escaped from Shillong jail with other under-trial prisoners.
Currently, the central jail is located in the heart of the city with commercial and residential areas adjacent to it. The government is apparently not happy with the location and this is another reason for mulling a new prison.
Meanwhile, sources said the Home (Jails) Department is seeking approval from the government to install CCTV cameras in all district jails, which also have a history of jailbreaks.
While the much awaited Nongpoh district jail was inaugurated this year, the Nongstoin prison is far from over even after several delays.
Established in 1895 under the British government, the Shillong district jail is housing over 320 inmates against a capacity of 150 and administering the jail has been affected due to crowding.