Prisons Wing on alert, only those tested negative to be lodged in jails

Jammu: In the wake of surge in COVID pandemic cases, Jammu and Kashmir Prisons Department has also put itself on alert while the accused persons only tested negative, are to be sent to jails and anybody found positive will have to be hospitalised prior to be jailed.
"Prisons in Jammu and Kashmir have become cautious in view of swelling cases of Corona and in order to save the inmates from COVID infection, the prison management has taken decisions with guidelines framed for the new prisoners being brought to the jails," official sources said.
They said that the Jammu and Kashmir Prisons Department has now decided to take only those prisoners whose negative report will be submitted to the concerned jail authorities.
"After arresting an accused in any case, if the police has to shift him to jail under judicial custody, then his negative report for COVID is to be mandatory and submitted to the jail staff," said an official adding that in case, the accused is tested positive, he has to be hospitalised under the supervision of the police personnel and will be shifted to jail only after tested negative.
"Even if the report is negative, the accused has to be lodged separately for few days," he added.
"The new prisoner sent to jail will have to remain in quarantine period for few days as per the SOPs," the official added and said that only after monitoring his health, he will be shifted to the barrack with other prisoners.
The jail department, as per sources, have ordered this to all the jail authorities directing them to implement it immediately.
"All COVID SOPs and guidelines are being strictly followed in jails like use of face masks, sanitizers besides keeping inmates engaged in sports and other healthy activities," said an official.

Updated On 5/1/2021 10:47:11 AM