Body wants Central jail as women prison
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 13 2012: Voicing opposition to the Home Minister Gaikhangam's recent remark that the Central Jail Imphal would be merged with the Sajiwa Jail, All Manipur Jail Executive & Followers' Association has proposed that Central Jail Imphal be converted to an exclusive prison centre for the females.

speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, association general secretary Y Suresh Roy opined that converting the Imphal facility for women prisoners only would not only prevent unwanted incidents due to detention of male and female inmates in the same facility but would also help in reclaiming the historic aspect of Central Jail Imphal.

Pointing out that the Imphal facility constructed in 1890 during the british colonial period needs to be preserved as a historical site, Suresh also cautioned that the Home Minister's intention to keep male and female inmates at the Sajiwa Jail might lead to embarrassing situation for the Government as was evident when unwanted incidents occurred in the recent past.

Further mentioning that for nearly two years only female inmates were kept at the Central Jail, he proposed that status quo be maintained for the sake of both convenient jail administration as well as facilitate meeting of family members/relatives and the female inmates at the nearest point of the State capital.

pointing out that Jiribam jail was also built during the British rule, with Churachandpur and Chandel jails coming up in the subsequent years, Suresh desired that Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong district jails be made functional to ease congestion in the Sajiwa Jail.

Opining that jails need to be built up at all the district and sub-divisional headquarters as these facilities would serve as important component of the police modernisation process in trouble-prone Manipur, he disclosed that for a total of 39 female inmates in Central Jail only 4/6 personnel are on duty round the clock.

Secretary Y Suresh Roy also mentioned that a memorandum had already been handed over to the State's Home Minister for maintaining status quo of the Imphal facility.

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