A new face to security in jails

THRISSUR: With Chief Minister Oommen Chandy laying the foundation stone for the special high-security prison on the premises of the Viyyur Central Jail on Friday, the state is going to have a more sound jail system with tight security. The new jail is widely considered the need of the hour because Viyyur prison lodges a number of prisoners who are involved in several sensitive cases in the state. Nearly 30 prisoners accused in cases, the investigation of which has been undertaken by the NIA, including the case of chopping off the hand of a college teacher, have been lodged in the prison. The first-of-its-kind jail in the state will have the capacity to house 300 prisoners. Terrorists, hardcore criminals and those arrested under the Unlawful Activities Act will be kept in the high-security jail. The 13th Finance Commission has allotted the required funds and once the land is identified, the PWD will start the construction work.Superintendent-in-charge of Viyyur Central Prison K Anil Kumar said the prison would have all kinds of infrastructure facilities to ensure maximum security.