A saga behind high walls of Mandoli Prison

On the hugging periphery of Uttar Pradesh in north-east district is newly constructed Mandoli jail under the Government of NCT of Delhi. It is not really too old with its history; it was in fact planned decades ago when Sheila Dikshit was in office but became operational in October 2016, almost 8 years right after its construction had begun. However, its proposal was tabled in the year 1981. This was done with a view to decongesting Tihar Prisons that house the dreaded and high profile criminals whereas the capacity to accommodate more than 15000 prisoners against the sanctioned capacity of 6250 has been bursting at the seams.

A slow rate of disposals of cases resulting in a higher number of trials is the main reason behind the jails being populated. Rohini and Mandoli jails solve the problem of the overcrowding Tihar with 9 jails, which has created a condition inside the barracks utterly too inhumane that often perpetrates violence. The first batch of 50 inmates was moved to the newly constructed Mandoli on October 20. It has a multi-level prison building with high-security cells that have a good prisoner-tracking system; laser fences along the periphery wall and security cover 24x7. Cases of violence with an eye to seeking revenge stemming from gang rivalry, lording it over others for supremacy, extortion calls from inside the jail etcetera are the common features of a jail across the country whether it is Mumbai's Arthur Road or Pune's Yarawada, UP's Dasna or Haryana's Bhondsi, the situation is more or less the same. Jail authorities find it too difficult a task to handle with skeleton staff manning the jail complexes.

Besides, there were fierce clashes among the inmates sometimes over the coupons, which later on were replaced by smart cards; now the bio-metric system is doing pretty well. An inmate can make a paid-call for 5 minutes every day.

We talked to the Superintendent of Prisons Adeshwar Kant to know more about the Mandoli jail complex :

Can you please elaborate on jails at Mandoli Jail Complex?

The Mandoli Jail Complex with 6 jails housing around 3600 inmates spreads over 68 acres. The figure of inmates keeps fluctuating with as many as 50. It has six different jails for different categories with the strength of 3776 inmates at a time. It has a women's cell, a high-risk prison and four jails for UTPs (Under Trial Prisoners). Mandoli has 52 bedded hospital; one school with an examination centre of both NIOS and IGNOU for X and XII and also Bachelor's courses in Human Rights and Food Nutrition. Besides, it has an LED unit, bakery, carpentry and tailoring unit. The jail complex encompasses 330 staff quarters and 580 hostel rooms to accommodate staff and security personnel. The jail has a solar plant with a capacity of 736 KWP. It has a shopping complex for daily needs. We have three meals a day keeping in mind hygienic and nutritional values.

We have regular OPDs here in the complex. The convicts work here as sewadaars and get paid for their services as mashakkat.

What is the purpose of this jail?

It is meant to house the inmates sent in by Karkardooma Courts. It also eases off the problem of Tihar Prisons' spillover. Some country's high-risk prisoners are shifted here as they need to be kept isolated.

Talking of security layers that cover the inside and outside of the jail, do you think there could be chinks that still need to be plugged?

There are three layers covering the jail complex, which are foolproof. The entrance is manned by the ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) personnel, and the next tier is covered by CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and inside the jail premises, we have DJ (Delhi Jail) personnel to take care of the inmates. They all stay guard round the clock. Besides, there are 250 plus CCTV cameras at all vital points keeping tabs on the inmates. The jail is equipped with DFMDs (Door Frame Metal Detectors) at its entrance points and frisking is done meticulously.

Do colonies and the residential houses almost looming over the wall of the jail pose a threat to security measures?

Absolutely, the area of Harsh Vihar has colonies with houses surrounding the outer periphery and a part of the jail; we soon are going to cover that with a net wall so as to keep it sanitized to an extent. Besides, there are armed guards and rangers keeping a strict vigil from the towers.

How many NGOs are working and what is their role in improving the conditions inside the jails?

Well, there are around 70 NGOs working on different projects. We have regular visits by psychiatrists and counsellors. We have prayer, yoga, music and meditation sessions that help the inmates a good deal with their thought process. We have a Padho aur Padhao scheme for elementary education. Samarthan, an NGO, is doing well. Almost 500 litters of milk is used every day; lately, we have stopped the use of plastic bags that contain milk.

Do you have a provision for someone who cannot afford a pleader as most come here from a poor socio-economic status?

We have a legal aid lawyer provided by DSLSA (Delhi State Legal Services Authority) which is quite helpful in such cases.

How do things like substance and mobile phones travel into jails?

Sometimes they bring them in their body cavity. One inmate managed to bring in three mobile phones and a charger in his stomach and some tobacco tablets. He was operated in GB Pant hospital.

Finally yet importantly, gangs operate from inside, extortion goes on unbridled, new mates are put into task like mopping the toilets and pampering the muscled Mafiosi and above all radicalization that spawns crime. How do you handle such a syndrome in jails?

There are such incidences but we strive to track them. Yes radicalization is a serious issue that needs attention. For this, we have counseling sessions and make endeavours to keep the inmates of this nature separately.