Prison Life

Life in a Jail

(1) Overview (2) Arrest (3) Arrival at Prison (Jail) (4) Amad (5) Ward Allotment (6) Ward Life (7) Visitors arena (8) Jail Amenities (9) Supply of Goods & Money (10) Release from Prison (Jail)

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1.1    It is often a matter of discussion and curiosity that what is the life of a gentleman of a society in a Jail? People imagine life of jail shown in different movies and TV serials an all. But the reality is totally different.

1.2    IPC Section – 498A is the most abused and misused section of IPC. It is Cognizable, Non-baialble & Non-compoundable. Wife easily able to file a complaint under this section against her husband and his family members/relatives to harass, torture and all.

1.3    In a fear of being arrested and imprisoned for some span of time, husband and his family members always live in fear and depression. Once, arrested then socially will be defamed and have to face life like hell in prison (Jail). As a result, husband and his family members are helpless to go by the conditions laid down by the bride and police and the confidence of the wife increases to do more and more cruelty. Hence, it become essential to discuss about the real life in prison (jail).

1.4    In this context, it is very essential to clear all speculations about life in a prison (jail), it is important to discuss the real life in a prison (jail). This is 100% pure information about life in prison (jail) which was shared by a person who spend about 56 days in prison in 498A case before the grant of bail. So hereinafter, it begins the journey about life in prison (jail).

(2) Arrest

2.1    The journey to prison starts with arrest. Police arrests husband by alleging that he is absconding of being appear before the Police and not supporting the Police in enquiry against the FIR lodged by his wife.

2.2    When Police arrests the person, as per rule, police required to make an Arrest –Memo which clearly describes – (a) Name of the arrested person, (b) IPC sections or acts under the person arrested, (c) Place and address of the spot where the person is arrested (d) Date & time of arrest (e) Details of Identity Card of the arrested person if any (f) Signature of two persons around, (g) Signature of the arrested Person. Police required to pronounce before the concerned person, the details of sections under which a person is arrested.

2.3    After arrest, Police returns to Police Station and put the person in the Lock-up (Hazat) for a time being. Generally, the Police Lock-up is very dirty and totally unhygienic for human. It is not maintained by Police. The arrested person is required to be produced/detailed before the Magistrate concern within 24 hours of arrest. Here, the travelling time is deducted/not taken into account for consideration of 24 hours of time period.

2.4    To get rid of all such formalities as mentioned at Para 2.3, practically, police prepares arrest memo at Police Station as per it’s convenient and mention date and time accordingly.

2.5    Police prepares relevant documents so that the arrested person may be detailed/produced before the Magistrate concerned and request the magistrate to send the arrested person for judicial custody for 14 days so that inquiry may be conducted properly.

2.6    After that, Police take the arrested person to the Court and Court clerk prepares required documents for the judicial custody of the arrested person and mention the Prison (Jail) name where he can be sent for judicial custody as prayed by the Police.

2.7    When the arrested person is detailed/produced before the Magistrate, Magistrate asks – (a) Name, (b) Father’s Name, (c) Address etc. and sign the paper.

2.8    After that, police bring the arrested person (hereinafter the arrested person will be called ‘husband’) to Prison (jail).

3.1    Irons of husband is opened and police personal bring him to Jail office which is in a big hall (Dimension approx. 50’x40′). Before entrance, husband is searched by Jail Police personnel and passed through metal detector frame/door.

3.2    The Office clerk who is also a prisoner notes down all information of the husband into a log book which is approximately, 4” thick (Dimension of Log book register – 24″x15″x4″). The information which are mentioned in the Log Book are – (a) Name (b) Father’s Name (c) Mother’s Name (d) Uncle’s Name (e) Address (f) Mark of Identification (g) Qualification (h) Occupation etc.

3.3    After endorsement of all such information, a Prisoner number is allotted to the husband. Husband asked to sign in the register and the Police personnel who bring the husband also sign there and his all information are also recorded in the book.

3.4    After that, husband is required to move to other desk where, his photograph is taken by web camera and his thumb impression is taken. After that the husband is ordered to move to other hall from which the large Iron door of the jail is opened. Meanwhile, the police personal who brought the husband is released from is duty and he moves outside.

(4) Amad

4.1    When the husband enters into the prison by crossing the large Red-Iron gate, he is reported to Jail Station which is located at the middle of the Prison (Jail) play ground. Here all details of the husband is recorded and then produced before Amad/Arrival4.2

4.2    Aamad/Arrival is a section where fresh prisoners are reported on arriaval to the prision (jail). Here, his name, Father’s name and section under he is arrested is recorded in a Register and then placed in a Hall.

4.3    If the prisoner reported at night time, no food is served to him as the evening shift of food is distributed at around 16:00 hrs.

5.1    Next morning, all Prisoners are directed to report to the Prison (Jail) hospital for medical check-up. All are made to stand in a que.

5.2    In the name of medical checkup, only height and weight of the prisoner is recorded and after that, they are directed to return back to Aamad/Arrival barrack.

5.3    This morning he can take meals of Prison (jail) as his name is included for food/meal.

5.4    After counting process at 12:00 hrs. all are produced to another hall where the prisoners are allotted ward.

(6) Ward Life

6.1    Entire Prison (Jail) is divided into many wards to accommodate prisoners. A ward a big room/hall having approximately dimensions – 40’x30′ to accommodate approximately 40 to 50 prisoners.

6.2    After counting process at 12:00, all are gathered to a hall where the CW pronounce every prisoner’s name and ask his preference to where he wana go. And hence, allotment of ward is done away with.

6.3    A prisoner can be allotted ward or Cell as per CW discretion and the same is approved by the jail authority (Jailor). If it is found that any one of the prisoners have good financial background and he can easily pay some amount, then he is intentionally sent into Cell.

6.4    Cell is a dark room where a very few facility is available for any prisoner. Life in a Cell is generally allotted to Terrorists, Moists etc. But this is also used to earn money in the prison (jail).

6.5    If anyone is intentionally sent to Cell, after some time he definitely wants to be freed from the Cell and hence ready to pay any amount. CW bargains the amount and on payment of the amount he is transferred from Cell to Ward. The bargain amount is shared by CW and the Jailor.

6.6    After allotment of Ward, every prisoner back to Amad/Arrival barrack for recounting. After few hours, they are given a slip of their respective allotment of wards and their names are hence strike off from the Register of Aamad/Arrival barrack.

6.7    With all bag and baggage, a prisoner reports to the allotted ward with that slip. He report to the Ward chief that is called ‘Writer’.

6.8    Writer is the senior most prisoner who presides over the Ward. He is nominated by the Jailor. The duty of Writer is to maintain and manage the entire ward under his control and handle all prisoners of the ward.

6.9    There are two ways to take meals in a prison – (a) meal in ward catered by Ward Writer, (b) general meal provided by the prison authorities by standing in que and wait for turn.

6.10    Writer arrange meal in ward as he depute some of the prisoners to cook meal on heater within the ward for prisoners who paid for the same. All grains which are used for mess in a ward is purchased from prison (jail) authority.

6.11    The messing charge for meal in ward is Rs. 4,000 per month which is required to be paid to the Writer and Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000 per month for phone calls services. As Writer has a secret mobile phone to make calls. It is made available for monthly payment services. The payment can be made to the Writer on spot or to his family members at his home as per desire.

6.12    For a good and better life in prison, friendship with Writer is necessary and he never do friendship. Only he bestow his service on payment. Hence, continuous payment to Writer leads to a good and safe life in prison (jail).

6.13    The Writer can disturb, torture, beat or facilitate as per his desire. He is supported by other prisoners of the ward as he is the incharge of the ward. Hence, all prisoners want to be in his good list of under his mercy. The good way to live peacefully is to keep paying the monthly messing charge and the phone charge and avail all services.

6.14    On payment of the said amount to the Writer as mentioned above at Para 6.11, meal will be served as if the prisoner is in his house. The messing prisoner will serve food on demand, supply water and then take away the used plates. No need to wash dishes by oneself. As this service is catered by the messing prisoner. Only require to pay the said amount to the Writer.

6.15    Writer also allots sleeping place for a prisoner and decides where a prisoner can sleep. Hence, life in prison (jail) is totally depends on the relationship with the Writer.

6.16    For sleeping a quilt type structure is made up from a number of blankets by layering one another. A bed sheet is places on the top to make it a sleeping bed.

6.17    Sleeping beds are arranged on the specific area on either sides of the ward as it is constructed almost one foot above the floor and the mid area of looks like a small canal which is almost 5 fit wide and runs from one end to other end.

6.18    At one end (left or right side), there is toilet and bathroom are made available and the so called kitchen (Kitchen of the ward) on it’s opposite side.

6.19    One side of the other end is available for small temple in the ward and Television in the middle end of the passage. The same can easily be understood by the picture of the ward  which is available after Para No. 6.23.

6.20    Every ward is locked at around 17:30 Hrs in the evening after counting of prisoners as per entry of log book available in the ward. The Writer maintains and updates this log book in which name and father’s name of the prisoners of the ward are written on every day with date. If any new prisoner is added, his name is added and if any prisoner is either shifted or released the same is deleted from the register.

6.21    The Ward gate is opened by the Prison (jail) administration in the morning around 06:00 hrs and again all prisoners are counted and now after morning counting prisoners can move outside ward to play or do other works.

6.22    Prisoner having very low income background or don’t pay to Writer is engaged in house keeping work of the ward like – (a) Sweeping, (b) Cleaning (c) Toilet cleaning, (d) Cooking, (e) Dish washing etc.

6.23    Prisoners are counted 3 times (Morning – 06:00, Afternoon – 12:00 & Evening – 18:00) a day and at the time of counting all prisoners are required to be present in their ward.

(7) Visitors arena

7.1    This is the place where Prisoners are allowed to meet with their family members, friends, relatives etc. once in a week.

7.2    Family members are required to report to the Visitor office of the Prison (jail), fill up a form with their ID cards, address, relation with the prisoner in the morning time.

7.3    A consolidated list Ward number wise is generated and distributed to respective wards where the prisoner can receive his token to meet with his relatives by showing the same to enter into the Visitor Hall.

7.4    The hall has many windows with two layered metal net having at least 2 foot distanced and the net hole is very thin so that nothing can be exchanged except sound.

7.5    If any prisoner’s family member wants to meet more than one occasion in a week, they need to apply using name of the other prisoner by taking him into confidence. This is the only method for multiple meeting in a week.

7.6    Meeting Hall is well protected by CCTV cameras. A huge hue and cry and soughing take place in the hall as hundreds of people speaks at a time.

(8) Jail Amenities

8.1    For the entertainment, reform and other purposes, there are many amenities are available in a Prison (Jail) like – (a) Gym (b) Library (c) Music hall to learn music and musical instruments (d) Playground (e) Canteen (g) Milk parlour etc.

8.2    Library having a number of books of every field. Ramayana, Mahabharat, Quran, Hindi Literature, English Literature books, Newspapers (Hindi & English). All are free with no charge.

8.3    Cricket playground, Bolly-ball etc. can be played.

8.4    There is a canteen where fast foods or food can be purchased. Hosiery items, slipper, towel, soap, toothpaste, washing power, water bottle, cold drink, juice etc. are sold on payment.

8.5    Canteen has it’s opening time fixed by Prison (jail) administration. It is generally opened after 13:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs.

8.6    Milk-parlour sold – (a) Packed milk (b) Lassi, (c) Sweets (d) Curd and other mil items on payment. It is generally opened around 14:00 hrs and closed around 16:30 hrs.

(9) Supply of Goods & Money

9.1    If any prisoner requires any cloths or other eatable item, the same can be supplied by his family members.

9.2    Any such item is required to be kept in a bag (cloth bag, polybag etc.) and a slip having name, ward name, father’s name etc. intact with it is deposited in the morning time at the main door of the Prison (jail). The same is later distributed around 10:00 hrs to prisoners by pronouncing respective name and ward name.

9.3    If any prisoner is failed to collect his item, his bag is deposited to Prison Police Chauki which is situated in the middle border of the playground. The same can be collected from there in the evening around 16:00 hours.

9.4    Only Rs. 1000 (One Thousand) can be supplied at a time to the prisoner through filling up a form in which – (a) name of prisoner (c) Ward No. (d) address of prisoner (e) name of sender (f) relation with prisoner (g) address of sender etc. are endorsed. The same are asked before payment of the amount.

9.5    It is recorded in a register. Money is disbursed to the prisoner with sign in the register.

(10) Release from Prison (Jail)

10.1    Any prisoner is released from prison (jail) if – (a) Bail is granted, (b) Acquitted off from the case/charge (c) completed his punishment period.

10.2    If bail is granted, then there is a bail paper which is sent through the court to obtain thumb impression (Left thumb) on the form duly verified by the prison (jail) authority. Signature of prisoner is never taken in any legal form. Only thumb impression is required.

10.3    After that, a release letter is received from the court to release the prisoner.

10.4    Prisoner is required to report to Prison Police Chouky where, his release order is available. His name is struck off from the record and required to pay Rs. 50 to the person doing the work. Again Rs. 50 is to be paid to the Prison Police constable who is present there and executing all works. If such amount is not paid, they will delay the release.

10.5    After that the prisoner is required to report to Prison office where his name was registered in the log book. His release entry is made against his registration entry. All entries recorded at the time of admission is verified from the prisoner and he is checked with his mark of identification etc.

10.6    A round seal of release is made on the hand of the prisoner and on that basis a prisoner is released from the Prison (jail). But, Rs. 50 is required to be paid to the constable who is opening the gate or release. If he is not paid, he will delay in opening the gate.

10.7    Prison (jail) is a place where Jailor is the king and he rules over as per his desire. Only his rule prevails all around the prison.

10.8    If any person is ready to spend Rs. 5000 to Rs. 6000 per month, he will spend his entire prison life with ease and enjoyment. This amount is subject to change as per circumstances and Prison.

10.9    A prison (jail) is run by prisoners as the jailor deploy them in different office works. Only very important jobs are executed by the government employees. Prison (jail) administration pays a monthly remuneration for their work.

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