Three CRPF companies for state jails

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 26

Days after murder of an inmate in a Punjab jail besides regular incidents of drugs smuggling and corruption in state jails, the Centre has approved deployment of three companies of the CRPF — one each for jails in Ludhiana, Amritsar and Bathinda.

More companies of the CRPF or the Central Industrial Reserve Force (CIRF) would be provided, a communication of the Ministry of Home Affairs received by the state government said.

Jails Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa said he had pushed for deployment of paramilitary forces for better security. He said jails were facing shortage of staff.

In the first phase of deployment, these three jails have been chosen.