Security for Salem leads to space jam

ARTHUR ROAD JAIL ANDA CELL Usually every cell has one inmate,but with a yard set aside for Salem, all the cells are now packed

JAILHOUSE ROCKED

Mateen Hafeez/TNN

Mumbai: The arrival of extradited gangster Abu Salem at Arthur Road jail has created a space jam for other undertrials.

The inmates of the infamous anda cells are up in arms because of the overcrowding after one of the sections was cleared out to house Salem in virtual isolation. Yard number four of the cell was vacated to accommodate Salem, and as a result, the other three yards have become overcrowded.

According to one inmate of the anda cells (so named because of their shape), yard number one has six small cells, while the second and third have nine cells each, and the fourth has seven. “Before Salem’s arrival, around 20 inmates lived in yard number four. And the other three were already overcrowded,’’ he said.

The inmates lodged in yard four were then shifted to the other yards and the entire section vacated for Salem keeping in mind the fact that he was potentially a high-value target and needed more security. Currently, the don’s only companion in an adjacent cell is Manzoor Ahmed, another bomb blast accused who allegedly supplied AK-56 rifles to actor Sanjay Dutt.

“Generally only one accused is kept in one cell but since yard number four has been vacated for Salem, at least three inmates have been pushed into each cell. The layout is such that it is difficult for two inmates to share a cell and now there are three in each,’’ an undertrial said.

His feelings were echoed by a bomb blast accused housed in the same prison. He said: “It is becoming intolerable. The authorities have not bothered to check the situation inside the jail.’’

Arthur Road jail was meant to house 804 inmates, but with jail infrastructure not keeping pace with the needs of the criminal justice system, it is presently home to 2,900 undertrials. While admitting that the jail is overcrowded, deputy inspector general of police (prison), south region, S P Yadav, said, “The jail has more inmates than capacity. The Taloja jail is under construction and once it is operational, most of the inmates will be transferred there.’’

The Times of India, April 19, 2006