No New Entrants in Jail without Covid test: MP Government

The Madhya Pradesh government Tuesday announced that no new prisoners will be admitted to the jails in the state before undergoing Covid-19 test. The statement came after 64 inmates and 3 guards of the jail in Raisen were tested positive on Monday. The decision was announced by Minister for Home and Jail Narottam Mishra on Tuesday evening.

He said, “From now on, we will make arrangements for coronavirus tests of new prisoners before they are admitted to any jail in the state. Only after clearing the test the person can enter the jail. Till then, the person will be put in quarantine cell.”

Some of the infected prisoners were admitted to the hospital, and others were quarantined in the Covid care facility set up in jail premises. The facility was set up after cleaning and sanitizing the jail.

“Forty-one of the infected prisoners have been shifted to Vidisha Medical College (hospital), while the remaining ones are undergoing treatment at the COVID care centre on the jail premises,” Mishra added. He said that those in critical condition will be moved to Bhopal.

According to a medical officer from Bareli, the new entrants might have spread the infection in the jail. The initial investigation shows negligence on the part of jail authorities. As a consequence, the Jailer of Bareli Sub-jail was suspended.

“As per the preliminary inquiry report, the jailer of Bareli sub-jail, Vinay Jandelwal, has been found to be at fault. I have issued the order to suspend him,” the minister said.

Written By Rashi, She is doing her Masters in Convergent Journalism from Jamia AJK MCRC, New Delhi.

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