Jammu, Oct 5: Dreaded terrorists from Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir will be kept in solitary confinement at Dambra, Mahanpur jail in Billawar tehsil of Kathua district to prevent radicalization of other inmates and use of mobile telephones or other electronic equipments to ensure that they don’t manage to pass on instructions outside.
“The top terrorists and other Public Safety Act (PSA) detenues will be shifted initially from Kot Bhalwal, Srinagar and other such jails to Mahanpur after its inauguration which is likely to be done by Union Home Minister Amit Shah shortly,’’ sources told the Excelsior.
Several Intelligence agencies had earlier pointed out that dreaded Pakistani and Kashmiri terrorists, who are arrested, should be kept in solitary confinement and not allowed to mix up with other detenues in the prisons as it has been observed that they try to radicalize the prisoners and lure them into militancy.
The near-completion high-end security jail at Dambra, Mahanpur in Billawar tehsil, located in far off hilly area of Kathua district is meant for high-risk inmates and terror offenders, mostly the Pakistanis and dreaded terrorists from Jammu and Kashmir besides PSA detenues.
Sources said the Mahanpur jail has capacity to accommodate around 600 terrorists having barracks for solitary confinements of the dreaded terrorists to avoid their contact with other jail inmates and prevent any kind of radicalization attempt.
“The jail has been constructed at such a location that it is not only very far away from the International Border but also is safely out of standard drone range. It is among 5-6 jails in the country which have been equipped with latest and modern surveillance systems and advanced security apparatus,’’ the sources said, adding the prison is being given final touch in the construction work.
Shah is likely to inaugurate the jail whenever the construction and other works are completed.
Sources said the size of solitary confinement cells was reduced after the construction which resulted into slight delay in completion of high-end jail.
“Overcrowding in Kot Bhalwal and Srinagar jails besides some other prisons is expected to be reduced after shifting of dreaded terrorists to Mahanpur jail. Presently, top terrorists have been lodged in Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu and Srinagar jail in the Kashmir Valley. Some district jails of the Union Territory also have few hardcore terrorists,’’ the sources said.
Security of Mahanpur jail, like other major prisons, has been handed over to the Central Industrial security Force (CISF), which has already been deployed there. The CISF has taken control of all security arrangements at the prison.
Sources said the installation of modern surveillance system and equipments inside and outside the Mahanpur jail premises will ensure fool-proof security arrangements and the terrorists will not be able to use mobile phones or other such electronic equipments even if they manage to find one.
Presently, the Kot Bhalwal prison in Jammu caters to top terrorists arrested during the operations including Pakistanis and those from Jammu and Kashmir. However, there have been reports of overcrowding in the jail some times. The new jail at Mahanpur will reduce the burden on Kot Bhalwal as well as Srinagar jails, the sources said.–(Daily Excelsior)
