Build separate jails for ordinary, terror convicts: J&K asks Centre

NEW DELHI: Mehbooba Mufti-led Jammu and Kashmir government has sought Centre’s help to build a separate jail for terror convicts and ordinary convicts after reports that the latter can be radicalised after coming in contact with the jailed militants.

The state government said the cost for building one prison facility will come for Rs 7 crore after which the MHA has advised that the experiment of a separate prison should be first tried at Srinagar and later to other prison center in the valley The demand of the state government is in tune with the MHA advisory in April last year where the Centre asked all state governments to build separate high-security prisons away from cities to house convicted terrorists and those facing trial in terror cases.

The letter from the home ministry said there was an ‘immediate need to decongest jails’ by setting up high-security prisons for those accused of terror ‘outside the city’.

“If that is not feasible, then very high risk prisoners and other under-trial prisoners under the category of terrorist/security suspects are required to be segregated effectively from the ordinary prisoners within the complex of central and district jails,” the letter said.