Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the jailbreak by Govindachamy, a hardened criminal, has exposed serious flaws in the state’s prison security system, the government remains unresponsive to a reform report submitted more than a decade ago.

The report, submitted in 2013, has been buried by the state government with no follow-up action. It included several key recommendations, such as rotating prison staff every three months, increasing the number of wardens, deploying rapid response teams inside jails, and strengthening surveillance protocols. None of these were implemented.

The study was commissioned after two inmates escaped from Poojappura Central Jail in June 2013. A high-level committee comprising the State Police Chief, the Home Secretary, and the head of the Jail Department was tasked with studying jail security. Yet its recommendations were ignored.

Warnings repeatedly ignored
A decade ago, then State Police Chief TP Senkumar issued a circular outlining precautionary measures to prevent jailbreaks. These included body frisking before lock-up, thorough inspection of prison cells, and prohibiting the presence of objects like wooden logs on jail premises. He also directed jail authorities to closely monitor habitual offenders, inmates who had previously attempted to escape, and those convicted in high-profile cases. Even these instructions were neglected.

In Govindachamy’s case, red flags were missed. Known for his fondness for non-vegetarian meals, he had completely avoided such dishes and even reduced his food intake in the days leading up to his escape. Yet no one suspected anything. Jail authorities also ignored past instances where escape plans involved inmates losing weight to squeeze through narrow iron bars.

Key recommendations in the report

• Prisoners should be accommodated as per the Model Prison Manual. Regular jail cells should not be used for manufacturing units such as chapati-making.
• Crucial prison duties should not be entrusted to temporary staff.
• All areas of the prison should be adequately lit, day and night.
• CCTV footage must be reviewed daily by the Jail Superintendent.
• Motion- and touch-sensitive alarm systems should be installed wherever necessary to monitor prisoner movement.
• The number of entry and exit gates in a jail should be restricted to a maximum of three, each guarded with proper security.