CISF Srinagar Central Jail: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has now taken charge of security at the Central Jail in Srinagar, which is one of the most sensitive jails in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the first time that CISF is stepping into jail security in the Union Territory, and this marks a big shift in how jails here will be protected in the future. CISF already had experience working in Jammu and Kashmir as they were deployed earlier at the airports in Jammu and Srinagar back in 2020.
They are bringing their strong discipline, high-level security systems, and well-trained staff into the prison system, which has been facing serious problems due to overcrowding and rising threats.
A CISF spokesperson explained the purpose of this new step clearly by saying, “We also secure you where we don’t want you to be. Our dedicated personnel operate with the highest standards of professionalism to safeguard this critical institution. The objective is not just keeping threats out but ensuring that inmates are securely housed and law and order is maintained within the facility” reported ETV Bharat.
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This move is seen as a very important step in improving jail security, especially in areas like Srinagar where the jail has housed many high-risk prisoners like known terrorists and political detainees.
Overcrowded Jails
Right now, the jails in Jammu and Kashmir are filled way beyond their capacity. As of April 30, 2025, the jails are running at 137.2% of their capacity. The total number of inmates has reached 5,295, but the actual capacity is only for 3,860. This overcrowding makes the jails more difficult to manage and increases the chances of violence, escape attempts, and radicalisation. This is one of the reasons why the entry of CISF into jail security has been seen as necessary and urgent.
Jammu and Kashmir has 15 jails in total. This includes two central jails one in Kot Bhalwal and the other in Srinagar and several district jails, a correctional home, and a holding centre. Kot Bhalwal is the largest, built to house 902 prisoners, while the smallest is the Sub Jail in Reasi, which has space for just 26. With jails becoming more than just holding centres and slowly turning into places where radical ideas can spread, the government decided to bring in a stronger force like CISF to handle the security part.
CISF officers have already been placed at important points inside and around Srinagar Central Jail, like at the entry gates, exit gates, watchtowers, and security control rooms. They have also started using new tools like CCTV cameras, sniffer dogs, biometric access systems, and high-tech screening machines to make sure no threat goes unnoticed. The plan is to slowly take over the security of other jails too in Jammu and Kashmir. “We are gradually taking over the security of other jails in J&K,” said the same CISF spokesperson.
New Rules for Safer Prisons
Along with the CISF coming in, there is also a change in how prisons are managed overall. The Jammu and Kashmir government has started using the Prison Manual of 2022. This new rulebook follows the Model Prison Manual of India and aims to bring all jails under one clear system that focuses not just on custody but also on safety, reform, and discipline.
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While CISF handles the outside and internal security of the jails, the Jammu and Kashmir Prisons Department will continue to manage the inmates’ reform activities, administration, and care inside the jails.
The Prisons Department also runs a training centre called the Institute of Correctional Services in Mishriwala. This is where staff members are trained or re-trained for prison work. They also operate a holding centre which holds certain inmates separately. This entire structure is now going through a change, with security experts saying that this new arrangement adds a much-needed safety layer.
A retired prison official, who has seen how prisons used to be run before, said something very important about the change. “This is not just about guarding walls and gates,” he said. “It’s about anticipating and neutralising emerging threats, and bringing a culture of accountability, discipline, and vigilance to institutions that have, for too long, operated under strain.”
