SRINAGAR: The Union Government is planning to extend the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to five more jails across Jammu and Kashmir, increasing the number of CISF-protected prisons from two to seven.
Official sources said the proposed expansion includes the high-security prison at Mahanpur in Kathua district and district jails in Jammu, Anantnag, Kupwara and Baramulla. The move is aimed at enhancing surveillance, improving inmate management and preventing security breaches within correctional facilities.
The CISF has already been guarding the Central Jail Srinagar and Kot Bhalwal Central Jail Jammu since October 2023. Following the positive results of its deployment, authorities have decided to widen the force’s role in prison security across the Union Territory.
Officials said the expansion forms part of a comprehensive strategy to curb the smuggling of narcotics, mobile phones, communication gadgets and other prohibited items into prisons. The CISF has introduced modern security systems at the jails under its protection, including non-linear junction detectors to detect hidden electronic devices, advanced X-ray baggage scanners, hand-held metal detectors and dedicated Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) for continuous surveillance and rapid response.
In addition, bulletproof mobile patrol vehicles have been deployed to reinforce perimeter security and ensure swift action in case of emergencies. Authorities are also integrating Artificial Intelligence-based CCTV surveillance, real-time video analytics and centralised command-and-control systems to further strengthen prison monitoring.
Sources said CISF personnel are receiving specialised training in behavioural assessment, inmate profiling and anti-sabotage operations to address evolving security challenges within correctional institutions.
The decision gains significance as several prisons in Jammu and Kashmir house high-risk inmates, including those facing terror-related charges. The upcoming Mahanpur prison in Kathua is expected to be the Union Territory’s first dedicated high-security jail and will accommodate some of the most sensitive and dangerous inmates.
Security agencies have been conducting regular audits, inspections and mock drills in prisons across the region to assess vulnerabilities and ensure preparedness against threats such as jailbreaks, radicalisation and organised criminal activities.
Officials believe that the expansion of CISF deployment will significantly strengthen the overall prison security architecture in Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring greater safety, vigilance and effective management of correctional facilities across the Union Territory. (KNC)
