IT Correspondent
Jiribam, Jan. 10 :
The Jiribam Sub-Jail which is one of the oldest Jail of the Manipur State is in a deplorable condition and within the areas of jail have been transformed to piggery farm and kitchen garden.
The jail was established on November 9, 1964 and had functioned very well as a full-fledged jail in older times upto 1996-97 under the supervision of a Jailor.
Thereafter, due to non – functioning, the sub-jail was converted into a morgue where dead bodies are kept since erstwhile Jiribam Sub-Division does not have its own morgue. It was again used as a temporary camp for security forces for a certain period of time.
As the concerned authorities have failed to look into the series of problems and its non – functioning , the law enforcement agencies of Jiribam District are finding it hard as their cries for help and hardships have gone on deaf ears.
The law enforcement agencies faced many problems if they arrest any accused person (s) who have to be brought up to Imphal which is 222 km far from Jiribam along the NH 37, if they are to be jailed.
Moreover, the erstwhile Jiribam Sub Division was upgraded to District status and there are lots of changes in the newly upgraded District as compared to earlier times with a high rate of crimes which requires a Sub jail in Jiribam for the smooth functioning of law and order.
On December 26, 2018 the erstwhile law Minister of Manipur L. Jayenta Kumar and present Local MLA of Jiribam Assembly Md. Ashab Uddin visited the defunct Sub jail of Jiribam which gave a ray of hope among the people of Jiribam for the renovation of the jail but till the assurance remained as mere words.
If the concerned authorities do not take appropriate steps at the earliest, slowly and gradually it will be reduced to nothing.
The irony was that, the jail is situated within the municipal areas of Jiribam town occupying vast areas of land as unused as well as due to encroachment to the surrounding areas of jail, the size of jail area are reducing day by day.
Many people of Jiribam opined, if the jail is not to be reinstated than “ it will be better to utilize the land for other productive purposes for the development of the district”.
