Kerala’s first High Security Prison has started functioning, two years after its formal inauguration. The prison located at Viyyur in Thrissur district was opened on Wednesday. From CCTV cameras in each cell to security scanners and a biometric fingerprint system, the prison has high end security features.
The prison is for housing ‘hard core prisoners’, including those convicted for sedition. “Those prison inmates who pose a challenge and are not manageable in other prisons across the state, will be housed here from now on,” an official of High Security Prison told TNM.
As per reports, this is the fourth high security prison in the country. The facility will be able to house 535 prisoners. “At present there are about 62 staff including a jail superintendent. But more security staff will be deployed here in the coming days,” said the official.
The three storeyed building of High Security Prison situated in about nine acres of land, is located near the Viyyur Central Prison. Persons including staff and prisoners who are entering and exiting the prison will have to pass through strict security checking.
As per reports, the cells for inmates are designed in such a way that inmates cannot see each other. There are about 60 such cells which can house a single prisoner each. Each cell also comes with toilet facilities. The administrative section and kitchen are separate buildings, and surround the cells.
According to officials, the main characteristic feature of the prison is the presence of CCTV cameras in each cell.
Though the prison building constructed at a cost of Rs 22 crore was completed in 2016, the installation of security features was only completed this year. “Formal inauguration of the prison was conducted in 2016 itself, but the electronic work and installation of security system was only completed this year. The delay was mainly involving the tender procedures of the work,” said the official.
Arrangements are also underway to install special video conference rooms. When completed it will be possible to conduct trails of prison inmates through video conferences. Construction of kitchen and roads inside the prison compound is underway.
According to reports, a hospital with the capacity to treat 30 patients at a time will be constructed inside the prison premises. There will also be a dog squad inside the prison.