NHRC sends notices to Tihar authorities

Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports on illegal activities inside Tihar jail premises, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the prison authorities, asking them to submit a report in this regard within two weeks.
"The Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that there are about 20 gangs of inmates operating inside the Tihar jail who facilitate mobile phones, coolers, porn magazines and protection from sexual abuse to prisoners who can pay them," the NHRC said in a statement.
They even plot crimes, including murder, both inside and outside the prison, it said.

"The contents of the press reports, if true, raise serious questions about human rights of the prisoners as well as people outside the prison," the statement said.
Notices have been issued to Principal Secretary (Home) and Director General (Prisons) and a report has been sought in this regard within two weeks, it said.
The Commission has also authorized one of the SSPs in the Investigation Division to conduct an inspection of Tihar jail and verify the allegations.
According to media reports, 17 deaths have taken place inside the jail in the last four months, raising serious questions about the much needed security infrastructure.

It was also reported that the prison is vastly over populated with 14,000 prisoners squeezing into the capacity of 6,250.