Proposal to deploy CISF to guard state jails hits hurdle

‘CAN’T SPARE FORCE’ Home ministry says there is dearth of trained personnel; Union, state govts had reached agreement in April

CHANDIGARH: The Union home ministry has expressed its inability to immediately spare two companies of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to assist Punjab Police in guarding jails.

The ministry’s communication to the state home department cites dearth of trained personnel with the force for its decision.

Under the agreement between the state government and the Union home ministry, reached in April this year, the Centre was to provide two CISF companies to ensure security at the ‘highsecurity and sensitive jails’ where hardcore terrorists and gangsters are lodged.

In exchange, Punjab was to provide two companies of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) to the ministry.

“In the latest communication, the Union home ministry has also suggested that since the CISF was a specially-trained Central force, exchanging it with battalions of the police force may not be a workable idea,” said a senior functionary .

THE PROPOSAL

Punjab home department had mooted he idea to hand over few sensitive jails or few sensitive zones inside jails — dreaded gangsters and criminals are lodged here — to the CISF to break the nexus betweeen jail department officials and these hard-core criminals.

“It has been observed that dreaded smugglers and crimianls develop cordial relation with the security staff by alluring them with money or by threatening them to harm their family members. When the security would be from outside and more professional, it would be difficult for inmates to enjoy a lavish life,” a senior officer said.

Another reason behind asking for Central security was to prevent embarrassing situations like the November 2016 Nabha Jail break, where five gangsters and a terrorist fled after conniving with the jail staff .

ADGP jails, Gaurav Yadav said the proposal was still on and Punjab home secretary NS Kalsi and state DGP Suresh Arora had repeatedly discussed the issue with the Union home ministry.

“As far as I know, the CISF has said that the force needs special training to guard Punjab jails. They have said the two battalions will be sent once their new recruits are free from training. There might be a delay, but we are sure to get the CISF,” he added.

The CISF has said battalions will be sent once new recruits are free from training. There might be a delay, but we are sure to get the CISF. GAURAV YADAV, ADGP jails