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Sri Bharat Bhushan, a Prison Officer working in Jodhpur Jail, Rajasthanwas stabbed to death by a prisoners inside the Jail while he was on his dutyon 18.09.2010. This latest ghastly incident is only a tip of an ice berg. Theproblems being faced by Prison authorities within the Prison have becomealarmingly dangerous and life threatening by each passing day. About a

decade ago, assaults on Prison Officers were unheard of. But in the recenttimes, they have become a regular feature. The jails were attacked byNaxals (Orissa, Chattisgarh etc.,), Mafia ( Maharashtra , Bihar , UP etc.,) anda Prison Officer in Tamilnadu was burnt alive inside Madras Central Prison byinmates. A Jailor in Andhra Pradesh was shot dead by Naxals while he wasresting in his residence.

It is alarming to note that in recent times, Communalism is raising itsugly head in the Jails with the initiation and encouragement by detained ISIelements / ISI sympathizers / Muslim fanatics. Just a year ago, a Jailor inCentral Prison, Hyderabad was shoed and beaten by Muslim prisonerresulting in bleeding injuries to the Jailor on the pretext that he has touchedQuran during the course of searches though he was standing far away fromthe Quran. The Officer was targeted because he was very strict anddisciplined and was firm in his duties. The prisoner was allowed to go scot-free by the timid Senior Prison Officers who feared communal reprisal shouldany action is taken on the criminal prisoner. This has lead to a fall in themorale of all Prison Officers in the State and adversely boosted theconfidence of communal elements in the Jails of Andhra Pradesh.

In a recent incident, it was alleged that a Muslim prisoner was beaten

up by Prison authorities of Jaipur Central Jail and also the Holy Quran was desecrated. This allegation was made by a Muslim organization whichclaimed to have visited the Jaipur Central Prison to ascertain the facts.Prisons Rules, all over India , does not allow any communal organizations tovisit prisons without the explicit orders of the Government or DirectorGeneral of Prisons. It was further alleged by the same organization thatPrison officials did not allow Muslim prisoners to congregate with otherprisoners on the eve of Id-ul-Fitr. It is alleged the Jailor bluntly deniedthem of their right. Prisons Rules does not allow any congregations in thename of caste, creed or religion in the interest of Jail security and prisoners

do not have any right for congregation as per Prisons Rules.All these allegations are made with intentions to black mail and

threaten the Prison Officers. Basing on these allegations, one officer wassuspended and another was transferred. Such hasty action against Officerswill send wrong signals to Prison staff while giving the communal forcesextra strength to carry on with their ugly designs against the Prison Officers.

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These communal forces will slowly and steadily destabilize, demoraleand weaken the integrity of Prison Officials with their blackmail andterrorizing tactics. The Print and Electronic media is always on the look outto make matters worse by adding communal colour, violation of humanrights twist and propogate it round the clock to defame the individuals

working in the Prisons. It is also observed that these communal forces knockthe doors of Judiciary with false accusations on Prison Officers allegingbrutality and demanding money etc. These sort of tactics will leave a scaryfeeling on the psyche of the Officer. It is therefore, very essential to checkthe activity of these communal forces inside the Prison with a firm hand toprotect not only the Prison Officers but Society at large.

The Prison Officers today are working in very hostile and highlyadverse conditions. There is no guarantee for their life either inside thePrison or outside the Prison. No steps are taken by the Government toensure their safety and security. Almost all the Prisons are understaffed andresidential quarters are devoid of any security. It is shocking to note thateven senior Prison Officers are not provided with fire arms for self defense.No Sentry Pickets are available at vulnerable points such as the residencesof Staff or Officers or outer entrance gates etc. Prison Staff are mostneglected personnel and least important in the Government Sector. WhileGovernments and some Agencies plan and implement several programs forinmates, institutional training to them and their rehabilitation, no efforts aremade to redress the problems being faced by the Prison Staff. In all majorCentral Jails across our Nation, majority of the staff work under severestress and testing conditions. In these Prisons, some notorious prisoners

yield so much power and influence that no Prison staff dare act against theirill deeds. Should any Prison staff dare against them, they will beimmediately victimized both by the inmates and media. This has become avery dangerous trend in Prison administration. Unless some serious andupright stand is taken by appropriate Governments, the Prisons will be badplaces very soon, both for Prison Staff and Society as well.