Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 10:
With the State striving hard to accelerate the development pedal amid various impediments and to some extent able to follow other advanced States of the country in terms of acquisition of modern technologies inmates of Sajiwa Central Jail, Khabeisoi are still languishing in the dark age with hardly any modern amenities to lit up the dark cells.
Even though high powered generators and high tech inverters have invaded every house in the State, outdated kerosene lamps locally known as "Podon" are still used at the Jail, located in Imphal East district.
Established in June 1992, the inmates and jail staffs are facing huge problems due to frequent power snap.
Lack of security staff and medical facilities and non repairing of jail building, are some of the other major concern.
The jail presently houses about 429 inmates including convicts, under trials prisoners and NSA detainees among others.
Talking to The Sangai Express, a jail official stated that possibilities of unwanted incidents occurring inside the dimly lit jail is very high and added that the two power generators installed inside the jail requires repairing but the repeated appeals for the same failing to evoke desired result.
The irregular power supply has further compounded the woes of the jail staffs, said the official.
Informing that 'Podons' are the only source of light for the inmates during load shedding periods due to the absence of invertors and generators inside the jail, the official lamented that non of the assurances given by the concerned officials for providing regular power supply to the jail have never been translated into action.
Elaborating more on the in conveniences faced by the jail staffs, the official stated the jail supposed to have about 300 security men including officers presently has only about 96 personnel.
Commenting on the problems faced by the staffs on the medical facilities front, he said that lack of proper medical facilities inside the jail have complicated emergency cases sometimes even leading to deaths.