Prisons should make people fear not committing any crimes. Given that Venezuela has the world’s second highest homicide rate, it’s probably no surprise that Venezuelan prisons are considered to be some of the most violent in the world.Another dreaded one is in Guantanamo. The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a United States military prison located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, on the coast of Guantánamo Bay in Cuba. The camp was established by President George W. Bush's administration in 2002 during the War on Terror. .. .. .. yet the cruelest one would be ‘Kala pani’ – the Cellular Jail @ Andamans.
The
Cellular Jail, also known as Ka-la- Pa-ani (Black Water), was a colonial prison
in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The prison was used by the British
especially to exile political prisoners to the remote archipelago. Many notable
dissidents such as BatukeshwarDutt and Veer Savarkar, among others, were
imprisoned here during the struggle for India's independence. For once, all of
us need to re-read history – those prison sentences were not the political
sentences that Gandhi, Nehru & Congress underwent, where they could talk to
people, write letters to kith and kin. Those
prisoners sent to Andaman suffered
solitary punishment, having to live in cramped cells with hands / legs tied, underwent
torture, denied food and basic
necessities, suffered cruel treatments many a times, leading to death. The
true cruel face of British latched on them and maimed them hard.
Many a times politicians derive
mileage from imprisonment though these are not fighting for our freedom, yet
whenever one is arrested, they would cry victimization.Way back in 1999, those traveling by local
EMU from Egmore towards Parrys and vice versa could not believe – perhaps
initially they would have thought of some movie shootings but when stones
started raining, they realized that the scene of prisoners running riot
standing on the wall with knives, casuarina logs, cycle chains and every other
weaponry was real.On that day a
notorious Kasimedu gangster died inside the prison and there was rioting !
Many of us would remember that
landmark building as we travel on the bridge towards Central – after Bodyguard
Muniswarar temple – a big complex, Madras Central Jail.It had as its inmates – great freedom
fighters including VO Chidambaram, CV Rajagopalachari, Barathiyar, and many
prominent freedom fighters as also many other political prisoners.Madras Central Prison was one of the oldest
prisons in India. It was started during British rule in 1837. It was initially
called the Madras penitentiary until 1855 when it was renamed to Central Jail.
It is said that the call for independence found its echo more in the Madras
Presidency than elsewhere in the princely States. Many of those freedom
fighters were arrested and lodged here; it is said a few of them died in
custody.
The word "Prison" the
synonym of the word 'Jail' or 'gaol' or 'Penitentiary' has been defined as a
place properly arranged and equipped for reception of persons who by legal
process are committed to it for safe custody while awaiting trial or for
punishment. It is stated that during the period of Kings, hardcore criminals
were housed in a different prison than others who committed petty crimes. Lord Macaulay a member of the Indian Law
Commission initiated the Prison reform in 1835 for the first time in India.
Indian Prisons Act of 1894 regulated the prison system in the country. The Presidency Jail for women in Vellore, was
the first prison constructed in Tamil Nadu during the year 1830 followed by
Madras "Penitentiary" during the year 1837.
Keeping in view of severe over
crowding in Central Prison, Chennai and the need for increasing the capacity,
new prison complex at Puzhal was constructed at a total cost of Rs.77 crores. It
has a separate building for keeping women prisoners. The prison complex is
situated in a sprawling area of about 212 acres. It became operational in 2006
and prisoners were moved from the old building, which was later demolished and
a new complex annexe of Madras Medical college has come up over there.
Earlier there were some news
that some prisoners enjoy life inside the prison ! Now comes the news thatPuzhal Central Prison-1 in Chennai has become
Tamil Nadu’s next Covid-19 hotspot. A total of 30 inmates of the prison tested
positive for the virus on Friday, taking the total number of infected inmates
to 37 in the state in the last three days. A prison staff also tested positive
for Covid-19 on Friday. Official sources said the samples of 31 out of 93
inmates and prison staff returned positive for Covid-19. These persons were
isolated from the rest of the inmates. Most of them were above 40 years.
Upon searching – was surprised
to read that the Madras Central Prison had housed Subhas Chandra Bose and Veer Savarkar
during the days of independence movement.
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
30.5.2020.
