In a bid to restrict the transmission of COVID infection among convicts and undertrials lodged in prisons across the state, the Uttar Pradesh government is setting up temporary jails as quarantine centres. All coronavirus positive inmates will be isolated in these centres, until they recover, read reports. UP DG (Prison) informed that all the jail superintendents have been instructed to contact their respective district administrations and start setting up temporary prisons.

UP jails to resume manufacturing of masks

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At present, there are about 48 temporary jails in Uttar Pradesh, which hold as many as 3,500 prisoners. "Instructions have been given to jail superintendents to resume manufacturing of masks, sanitiser and to conduct regular yoga exercises for prisoners and staff to increase their immunity and protect them from Covid," he said.

The Prison Department has also requested courts for hearing of cases via video conferencing only, amid the unprecedented COVID surge. The Additional Chief Secretary, Home, has further directed all the district magistrates to write to district judges, requesting them to allow hearing of convicts and undertrials via video conferencing.