NAHAN (HP), AUG.11: Security measures are being strengthened in Central Jail here to lodge about 80 Kashmir militants who were expected to be shifted from Jammu and Kashmir.
Although Himachal Pradesh does not have any experience in dealing with militants, it has reportedly given the green signal to the J&K Government to shift them here.
‘The jail authorities have requisitioned armed police personnel to provide security outside the prison.
It is being said that Himachal is inviting trouble for itself by allowing the militants to be shifted to two peaceful towns.
Sources said the militants were to be shifted in the first week of this month, but the transfer has now been postponed for a few days. Most of the prisoners have been shifted to other jails in the state to vacate the barracks for the Kashmir militants. Although Central Jail is the biggest in the state, it has a capacity of Only 133; So far 63 prisoners have been shifted elsewhere.
It is being debated among the security setup whether the jail is suitable for lodging Kashmir militants. It does not have adequate security measures. The outer walls of the prison are not that high compared to Jammu Central Jail from where the militants are being transferred. The Jail Superintendent.
G.K Shrivastava, a JAS officer, said it would be a new experience for the jail staff to handle the militants.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 13, 1993
