Zeack News

Mumbai, Mar 26 Video conferencing facility would be installed at jails in Maharashtra to cut expenditure on moving undertrials to courts, Home Minister R R Patil said here today.

"The facility has already started in some jails and the Government would soon install it in remaining jails," Patil informed the Legislative Council.

The facility would also save the expenditure on security of undertrials while shifting them to courts, Patil said.

Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe raised the issue of attack on a jailor in Thane and asked if the Government has taken any measures like installing CCTV cameras inside jails to curb such incidents.

Patil said the proposal to install CCTV cameras in jails is already in the offing.

However, there are more prisoners and undertrials compared to the jail capacity, he said.

"The state jails have total capacity of 23,000 to 24,000 prisoners and undertrials.

New Delhi, Mar 22  With a Maharashtra Minister courting controversy after he allegedly assaulted a party worker, Congress today said the incident is "condemnable if true".

Minister of State for PWD Abdul Sattar was accused of kicking a party worker over the issue of ticket distribution for next month's Aurangabad Municipal Corporation elections.

"It is condemnable if true. If it has happened knowingly. Apology will have be sought if it has happened," Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters when asked about the incident.

Though Singhvi maintained that he was not aware of the facts, he said "Congress takes such incidents seriously".

Sattar initially denied assaulting the worker but later said the incident was regrettable and added he had to act in "self-defence".