Assistant superintendent of Kannur Central Jail suspended over Govindachamy’s jailbreak

KANNUR: Rijo John, assistant superintendent of Kannur Central Jail, has been suspended in connection with the jailbreak of notorious criminal Govindachamy. He was suspended by jail DGP Balram Kumar Upadhyay. Three officials were earlier suspended pending investigation. Deputy prison officer Rajeesh, assistant prison officers Sanjay and Akhil, who were on duty that night, were those suspended. Jail DGP had said that there has been a lapse from the side of the officials.

Meantime, there are reports that lack of sufficient staff in the state's prisons is creating conditions for security lapses. The situation in Kannur, Viyyur and Poojappura central prisons is pathetic. The Central Jail in Thavanur, which started functioning in 2022, is slightly better. The situation is that they have to work up to 16 hours. When officers are assigned for e-office work, video conferencing, ministerial work, work in the manufacturing unit, and court travel, there will be no one for security and surveillance duties.

Govindachamy had all the circumstances for jailbreak in Kannur. There was no one to look at the CCTV that should be monitored 24 hours a day. The inspection inside the cell was also not done properly. Those patrolling to constantly monitor the troublemakers would take breaks in between when they had to continue for more than 10 hours. There is only a capacity to house 7367 prisoners in Kerala's prisons. There are presently 10,375 people.