Pulwama jail designated as correctional home
Pulwama, April 16: Adopting reformatory and rehabilitative approach, the J& K government designated a jail in South Kashmir’s Pulwama as correctional home to dissuade the stone- pelters from picking guns and turning towards militancy. At least 20 youth, serving imprisonment in different jails, have been lodged in this detention centre in a bid to “segregate them from jailed militants”.
The government is hopeful that it will bring down the number of youths joining militancy as the protesters who were earlier kept in the jails had increased the chances of turning them to insurgent groups. The stone pelters will be counseled in correctional home. The step is expected to bridge the gap between government and locals.
The government’s step comes after the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent visit to J& K state where he had said, “Kids below the age of 18 will be treated in accordance with the Juvenile Act and not like criminals. Also kids below the age of 18 should not be treated like criminals; whatever investigation needs to be done it must be in accordance with juvenile act. They must not be sent to prison, must be sent to juvenile homes.”
According to a government order,
“In exercise of the power conferred by para 2.37 read with para 2.8 of the Manual of the Superintendence and Management of Jails in the state of Jammu and Kashmir ( 2000), the government hereby classifies district jail Pulwama notified vide notification SRO- 211 dated 17.4.2013 as a ‘ special jail’ ( correctional home) for the purpose of providing correctional services to the inmates.”
Director general ( Prisons) SK Mishra said, “We are bringing boys from other jails to this newly created jail. It is a correctional centre where education will be imparted to boys and computer education will be given to them. We have called computer teachers from outside and they will be teaching the boys.”
“The children are mostly college and school dropouts, and we will be providing them the facility of games there and also teach them skills of plumbing and repairing electric appliances so that they can earn a living once they come out.”
This is for the first time that a separate jail is being made for youngsters who are arrested on charges of pelting stones on government forces. The jail has a capacity to accommodate 200 prisoners.
GM Dar, deputy commissioner Pulwama, while talking about the difference between other jails and this newly created jail said: “It is a special jail where focus will be on rehabilitation of the boys. Boys detained in different jails like Kathua have been brought here.”