Puzhal prison in race with Tihar for ‘notoriety ranking’

The Puzhal prison is no different. If the current situation persists, it might soon achieve the dubious distinction of one of the most notorious prisons in the country. 

There is no adequate staff, most of the cells are overflowing and the prison environment is filled with hostility between prisoners and the staff. In the last two years, seven prisoners had reportedly committed suicide inside the prison. Plans for many murders that were committed in Chennai in recent past were reportedly hatched here. There are no mobile jammers at Puzhal. As per the NCRB data for 2105, the NHRC had sent 36 complaints of human rights violation by prison authorities and 8 by State Human Rights Commission in Tamil Nadu. 

Incidentally, P Ramkumar, the lone suspect in the sensational murder of Infosys techie Swathi at the Nungambakkam railway station, allegedly committed suicide by “pulling and biting a live electric wire” inside the prison (a claim made by officials in 2016). Most of the questions regarding the present condition of Puzhal prison are unanswered by the authorities. One of the staff told DTNext, “Only 6 to 8 prison staff will be on duty at a time to man all the three blocks in the sprawling prison complex. A lot have to be done to improve the conditions.” 

When contacted, ADGP Prisons, Vijay Kumar said, “We are now conducting regular inspection drives to stop criminal activities inside the prison. We also check for smuggling of ganja and mobile phones to the prison,” Vijay Kumar noted.