Rayagada: Even after a decade, a sub-jail built to house 300 inmates at Kashipur in the district is yet to be functional.
The Police Housing Board Corporation built the Rs 3.5-crore sub-jail in 2008 keeping in view the rising crime rate in the district and handed it over to the Jail Department in 2013. However, the sub-jail is yet to be inaugurated.
Wild shrubs have surrounded the sub-jail as it is not functioning. Similarly, quarters which were built around the jail are also lying vacant as they have not been allotted to any jail staff. Only three warders are deployed to take care of the jail, located 3-km away from Kashipur market.
The accused facing trial at Kashipur court are brought to the court from Rayagada sub-jail in a high security vehicle. As a result, the police have to put in more efforts to transport the accused.
Moreover, the convicts who are given jail terms and sent to Kashipur sub-jail are being shifted to Rayagada sub-jail. As
the Kashipur sub-jail is surrounded by mountains and jungles, it could not be operational in view of security, said some reliable sources.
On the other hand, 134 male and a female are imprisoned in Rayagada sub-jail while the capacity of the sub-jail is 101 inmates. The crowd of inmates has led to quarrels among the inmates over drinking water and sanitation.
The sub-jail at Rayagada, the district headquarters town, is yet to get the district jail tag. At least five acres of land is needed to build a district jail. But as some locals have encroached upon government land on the outskirts of Rayagada, the land demarcation for the district jail could not be done. This apart, the jail superintendent post at the Rayagada sub-jail has been lying vacant for a long time.
Surendranath Barik, in-charge jail superintendent of Rayagada sub-jail, said police forces could not be deployed at the towers built around the jail for security purpose. At least 15 CCTV cameras have been installed in the sub-jail.
Letters have been sent to the higher-ups for installation of more CCTV cameras on the jail premises and deployment of security personnel at the towers, Barik added.
PNN
