GUWAHATI, April 18 - The Guwahati Central Jail located at Sarusajai will be the first prison in the State to come under round-the-clock close circuit television camera (CCTV) surveillance.
The State government, in its latest order, has finally paved the way for installation of high-definition and vandal-resistant CCTVs in the Guwahati Central Jail, which will be replicated in other jails in a phased manner.
Along with 12 Internet Protocol (IP) dome cameras, as many as 85 IP bullet cameras will be installed both inside and outside the Guwahati Central Jail premises at strategic points under the supervision of the Public Works Department (Buildings/Electrical).
As per the security surveillance map, a pan-tilt-zoom camera which is capable of remote directional and zoom control, too will be installed in front of the gate of the jail.
�Of the 85 bullet cameras, 51 will be installed at various points inside the jail premises. The rest will cover the vulnerable areas outside the jail boundary,� sources at Dispur told The Assam Tribune, adding that the total project cost estimate would be over Rs 1 crore.
�There will also be 37 pole-to-mount cameras. The entire system of surveillance will function on wireless system in addition to network cable connection,� sources disclosed, adding that the long-pending demand for CCTV installation will now be a reality within this year
�A network video recorder which can record footage of all the cameras for 30 days at a stretch will also be placed as part of the security mechanism,� sources pointed out.
An official requesting anonymity informed that the system has been designed in such a manner that the footage captured can be accessed even at Dispur by the official concerned along with the office of the Inspector General of Prisons.
�Further, special clauses have been included in the contract to ensure accountability and smooth functioning of the system by way of imposing fine on the contractor or agency responsible for maintenance,� sources added.
Identical security surveillance mechanisms will be replicated in all the jails, especially the six central jails.
Lax vigil in the jails has accounted for nearly 50 incidents of jailbreak in the last five years, putting a serious question mark on the existing security system.
