| Plea for video conference | ||
Shillong, Feb 3 : Meghalaya director-general of police (prisons) Kulbir Krishan today said if the government had introduced video-conferencing facilities in Shillong Jail, the three undertrials could not have escaped yesterday. Of the seven undertrial prisoners taken out yesterday from Shillong Jail to be produced in the court of the sub-divisional magistrate, Mairang, West Khasi Hills, Hombreas Lyngdoh Nonglait, Romesh Margnar and Demand Roy Marwein had escaped from police custody. Police said the escapees are wanted in several criminal cases, including murder and dacoity. According to West Khasi Hills superintendent of police, M. Kharkrang, there were five constables accompanying the seven undertrials while they were on the way to the court. The sub-division police officer, Mawkyrwat B.D. Marak is conducting an inquiry, he said. “We are searching for the undertrials who are wanted in connection with various the criminal cases,” the superintendent of police said. Krishan said according to reports available, the three undertrials escaped from the toilet of the court premises at Mairang while one constable was guarding them. He told The Telegraph that when he was additional DG (prisons) in 2007, he had put up a proposal to the government to introduce video-conferencing facilities in the prison, but the government had not paid any heed to this. The undertrials need to be taken out from Shillong Jail to be produced before the courts in various parts of the state where cases are pending against them. According to Krishan, Anil Pradhan, who took charge as additional DG (prisons), sent a note to the government stating that the video-conferencing project was not viable. However, Krishan said the since the video-conferencing scheme is a central project, the government should have pursued the matter. The one-time cost involved in the video-conferencing facilities is Rs 17 lakh and the Centre is ready to provide the amount, he said. Krishan said when he joined as the DG (prisons), he had again written to the government to introduce the video-conferencing facilities in Shillong Jail and subsequently in Tura Jail. The Criminal Procedure Code, which was amended in 2008, allows video-conferencing facilities in jails in the country, he said. According to the DGP, if the video-conferencing facilities are introduced in Shillong Jail, the prisoners need not be taken out, but can remain in the special room at the jail and reply to the queries of the magistrates, even those posted outside Shillong. He said during President’s rule in the state last year, Meghalaya Governor R.S. Mooshahary used to communicate to the superintendents of police of all the districts through video-conferencing facilities. At present there are no jails in West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and South Garo Hills. The prisoners are taken out from Shillong Jail to courts in far-flung areas of the state since the cases are pending against them in those districts. Krishan said there would not be any security risk on the part of the police personnel who have to accompany the prisoners, once the video conferencing is introduced in jails. It can also save time and speed up trial of pending cases, he said. |
| Plea for video conference | ||
Shillong, Feb 3 : Meghalaya director-general of police (prisons) Kulbir Krishan today said if the government had introduced video-conferencing facilities in Shillong Jail, the three undertrials could not have escaped yesterday. Of the seven undertrial prisoners taken out yesterday from Shillong Jail to be produced in the court of the sub-divisional magistrate, Mairang, West Khasi Hills, Hombreas Lyngdoh Nonglait, Romesh Margnar and Demand Roy Marwein had escaped from police custody. Police said the escapees are wanted in several criminal cases, including murder and dacoity. According to West Khasi Hills superintendent of police, M. Kharkrang, there were five constables accompanying the seven undertrials while they were on the way to the court. The sub-division police officer, Mawkyrwat B.D. Marak is conducting an inquiry, he said. “We are searching for the undertrials who are wanted in connection with various the criminal cases,” the superintendent of police said. Krishan said according to reports available, the three undertrials escaped from the toilet of the court premises at Mairang while one constable was guarding them. He told The Telegraph that when he was additional DG (prisons) in 2007, he had put up a proposal to the government to introduce video-conferencing facilities in the prison, but the government had not paid any heed to this. The undertrials need to be taken out from Shillong Jail to be produced before the courts in various parts of the state where cases are pending against them. According to Krishan, Anil Pradhan, who took charge as additional DG (prisons), sent a note to the government stating that the video-conferencing project was not viable. However, Krishan said the since the video-conferencing scheme is a central project, the government should have pursued the matter. The one-time cost involved in the video-conferencing facilities is Rs 17 lakh and the Centre is ready to provide the amount, he said. Krishan said when he joined as the DG (prisons), he had again written to the government to introduce the video-conferencing facilities in Shillong Jail and subsequently in Tura Jail. The Criminal Procedure Code, which was amended in 2008, allows video-conferencing facilities in jails in the country, he said. According to the DGP, if the video-conferencing facilities are introduced in Shillong Jail, the prisoners need not be taken out, but can remain in the special room at the jail and reply to the queries of the magistrates, even those posted outside Shillong. He said during President’s rule in the state last year, Meghalaya Governor R.S. Mooshahary used to communicate to the superintendents of police of all the districts through video-conferencing facilities. At present there are no jails in West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and South Garo Hills. The prisoners are taken out from Shillong Jail to courts in far-flung areas of the state since the cases are pending against them in those districts. Krishan said there would not be any security risk on the part of the police personnel who have to accompany the prisoners, once the video conferencing is introduced in jails. It can also save time and speed up trial of pending cases, he said. |
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