High-security jail likely to be shifted from Nabha to Bathinda

The Punjab jails department has mooted a proposal to shift the high-security Nabha jail to the newly constructed prison for women at Gobindpura village, nearly 15 kilometres from Bathinda.

The final decision in this regard is likely to be taken keeping in view the dilapidated condition of the Nabha jail complex as it was built nearly 100 years back.

“The condition of some cells and areas in the Nabha jail is bad and they are in a dire need of repair. Some roofs need to be replaced immediately. As the high-security jail houses dreaded criminals and terrorists, it would be better to shift them to some other place where they can be guarded better,” a senior prison department official told HT.

The newly constructed jail for women, which is adjoining the Bathinda central jail and is constructed keeping in view the modern security needs and has small cells, has been lying idle after it was completed around two years back. Spread on 29 acres, this jail for women has 13 blocks with a capacity of housing 1,500 inmates.

Punjab jails minister Sukhjinder Randhawa also confirmed the plan to shift the high-security jail.

“If you will see the condition of the Nabha jail, you will get a feeling that it is prone to breaks. Keeping in mind the 2016 jailbreak, we don’t want to take any chance. The Nabha jail can house women and children inmates after renovation,” said the minister.

On November 27, 2016, armed men had attacked the Nabha jail and freed two terrorists, Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF)’s Harminder Singh Mintoo, and four gangsters.

Experts feel that shifting of the maximum security jail to Bathinda will be a good move. As the newly constructed jail for women is situated adjacent to the central jail, a large portion of it is guarded by the staff already deputed there.

THE HIGH-SECURITY CONCEPT

High security jails, also known as maximum-security jails, are the prisons where dreaded criminals are guarded with multi-layered security. These jails are secured by Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel and modern firearms are put into use to strengthen security.

When the Nabha jailbreak took place, a cop who was deployed at the main gate of the prison with an LMG (light machine gun) could not open fire when the gangsters attacked.

If you will see the condition of Nabha jail, you will get a feeling that it is prone to breaks. Keeping in mind the 2016 jailbreak, we don’t want to take any chance. SUKHJINDER RANDHAWA, Punjab jails minister

HT FILE Six inmates, including two terrorists and four gangsters, were freed from the highsecurity Nabha jail in November 2016 after armed men carried out an attack.