Srinagar: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has taken over the security of the two most secure central jails in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
The development comes almost three years after CISF took over the security of Jammu and Srinagar airports from the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
In a post on X, CISF said it takes immense pride in securing Srinagar Jail, ensuring a robust and vigilant security presence at all times.
“Our dedicated personnel operate with the highest standards of professionalism to safeguard this critical institution,” the post said.
The CISF, which is usually responsible for the security of central government offices, airports, seaports, Metro facilities, and some industrial units, has now taken over the charge of two high-security jails- the Srinagar Central Jail and Central Jail Jammu, Kotbhalwal.
The two sensitive prisons house several terrorists and other criminals. The two jails house an estimated over 1,400 inmates.
While the CISF provides security to the two jails, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) would continue to secure the outer periphery of the jail.
“Yes, the responsibility of round-the-clock security of the two jails is with CISF,” said an officer. “ There are deliberations to take over the security of more jails in J&K.”
At present, there are 14 functional prisons in Jammu and Kashmir, which include two Central Jails, 10 district Jails, a Special Jail & a Sub Jail. Against a lodgement capacity of 3629 inmates, the Jammu & Kashmir Prisons Department is accommodating more than 5300 inmates.
The Srinagar jail had been in the news for the wrong reasons on multiple occasions in the past . The Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) and the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of J&K police last year conducted a joint raid on the Central Jail in connection with a “terror-linked case”.
Over the last few years, several central institutes in Jammu and Kashmir have sought CISF security due to threat perception.
