Government remains silent on intelligence report; political clashes likely to break out at Poojappura Central Jail

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is not paying any attention to an intelligence report warning of potential political clashes at Poojappura Central Jail. The report suggests that tensions could arise between RSS and SDPI inmates and between RSS and CPM inmates anytime.

Among the prisoners are 15 Popular Front members sentenced to death in the Alappuzha Ranjith Sreenivasan murder case. Five RSS members are serving life sentences for the Kattakada Ashokan murder case, while 11 others are convicted in the Anavoor Narayanan Nair murder case. Seven CPM workers, convicted in the Anchal Ramabhadran murder case, are serving double life sentences.

Due to overcrowding, it is impossible to separate inmates based on affiliations. Even minor incidents like pushing or bumping into each other often escalate into verbal spats and minor clashes. Conflicts between prison staff and inmates are also common. Excessive workload and behaviour of the inmates are causing severe mental stress among jail employees.

Overcrowding and staff shortage

• 727 – Official inmate capacity
• 1,500 – Current number of prisoners
• 25 – Capacity of one hall
• 60-70 – Actual number of inmates in a single hall
• Less than 20 – Total officers available per shift to monitor all inmates
• 25 – Staff shortage as per jail manual

Jail expansion is necessary

• Although the jail department has submitted recommendations to expand the jail, the government has not taken any action.
• The Attakulangara Women's Jail, which currently houses 60 inmates, should be converted into a district jail after shifting female prisoners to the women’s block in Poojappura. At present, the women’s block in the Central Jail is being used as a chapati-making unit.
• Inmates from Poojappura District Jail should be moved to Attakulangara, and the district jail should be merged with the Central Jail to accommodate more prisoners.
• The report suggests that such a reorganization can be implemented if the government grants approval.