At the break of dawn, around 5 am, the massive Tihar prison complex, known as Asias largest, comes to life with its over 2,500 officials preparing for the day ahead. The prison gates are opened between 5:30 am to 6 am, coinciding with the sunrise, allowing thousands of prisoners to be released from their cells and barracks. This gives them the opportunity to move about in the open area and make preparations for the day. Prior to releasing the prisoners, jail officials conduct a roll call and maintain an attendance register.Tragically, it was within this prison and during this timeframe that gangster Tillu Tajpuriya was allegedly fatally stabbed by four rival gangsters inside a cell earlier this month. This incident occurred just a few weeks after the similar killing of another gangster, Prince Tewatia.Image source: https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.netInside his cell, Tillu was allegedly attacked by four individuals who descended from the first floor of the ward and used makeshift weapons to kill him. The Delhi Police Special Cell has filed murder and conspiracy charges against six inmates. As a result of negligence in duty, the Delhi Prisons Department suspended eight jail officers, while seven jail officials from the Tamil Nadu Special Police were “called back”.Jail officials at Tihar face not only the challenge of managing gang rivalries but also the constant vigilance required to prevent prison escapes. A significant incident occurred in 1976 when 13 convicts successfully dug a tunnel near the boundary wall and escaped, raising suspicions of collusion between the officials and the convicts. In response, the security arrangements at Tihar were revised, with Tamil Nadu Special Police personnel replacing most of the guards to create a language barrier between the inmates and the guards.Image source: https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entitIn Tihar, the morning routine begins with waking up the inmates, unlocking the cells, conducting roll calls, preparing breakfast, engaging in meditation, and using the washrooms. The majority of the jails in Tihar consist of a single floor, except for Jail No. 8 and 9, which have two floors. The central courtyard serves as an open space, surrounded by barracks and cells on all sides. Within each building, there is a designated room for storing weapons, stationery, food, and other items. The guards have their own small rooms where they can rest and maintain registers.After the roll call is completed by 6 am, the registers are submitted to the head warden and jail superintendents. Close monitoring of the CCTVs is maintained, and security teams remain on high alert as most prisoners are allowed to move out of their cells. At around 6:30 am, breakfast preparation begins, typically carried out by a group of inmates who sleep in the kitchen area. Other prisoners take up responsibilities such as cleaning utensils and the kitchen itself. “Prisoners who actively participate in cooking and cleaning tasks are recognized for their good behaviour, which can also contribute to sentence remission,” explained an official.Image source: https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1At approximately 7 am, inmates who have court appearances are instructed to clean their cells and take a shower. They are then escorted by guards to vehicles that transport them to the courts. Watch towers are manned by guards to ensure the inmates are monitored, and the Delhi Police provides assistance in their transportation. This time window raises concerns for the jail officials.In 2004, it was during this time that Sher Singh, who was convicted of killing Bandit Queen-turned-politician Phoolan Devi, managed to escape. “One of his accomplices disguised himself as a police officer and took her away under the pretence of a court hearing. The guards later realised they had been deceived,” a jail officer recounted.Within the prison complex, inmates are given the freedom to spend their day as they wish, whether it be engaging in prayer, participating in yoga, or carrying out various chores on the premises.“There are also educational classes available for inmates to learn subjects such as English and Urdu. While few inmates attend these classes, they are typically taught by fellow inmates or outside instructors,” an official stated.Notably, inmates like Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, who was arrested last year for his alleged involvement in the killing of fellow wrestler Sagar Dhankar outside Chattarsal Stadium, impact wrestling training to other inmates.At Tihar, constant surveillance is maintained over the prison compound through an extensive network of CCTV cameras. Additionally, personnel from Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) conduct regular patrols throughout the day.Image source: https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1bbAt 10 am, the inmates participate in the mulaqat session, which allows them to communicate with their loved ones through a glass partition. This interaction continues until noon when it is time for the inmates to proceed to the kitchen area for lunch.Due to the Covid-19 surge in 2020-21, all meetings with external individuals were suspended by the Delhi Prisons Department. However, to facilitate connections between inmates and their families, the department introduced a video conferencing service called e-mulakat, which was made available once a week.Jail officials emphasise that not all prisoners are subject to the same set of rules. With Tihar housing inmates from different parts of India, specific provisions are in place for elderly prisoners, VIPs, and those with disabilities.In 2014-15, Subrata Roy, the founder of Sahara India Pariwar, who was imprisoned for alleged non-payment to depositors, was granted special privileges. He was allowed to use a dedicated conference room to manage his hotels in New York and London. A senior jail official, who preferred to remain anonymous, recalled that Subrata Roy had obtained special permission from the courts and paid a fine of Rs 1.23 crores, the highest amount ever paid by a prisoner at Tihar jail for such privileges.Half a century earlier, in 1963-64, American smuggler Daniel Walcott, who was arrested for illegal activities involving exotic animals and drugs, also enjoyed special privileges. According to jail officials, these privileges seemingly encouraged Walcott, who formulated a plan and successfully escaped from the prison.During the early afternoon at Tihar, inmates typically have a period of rest. From 12.30 pm to 3 pm, most inmates take their lunch to their cells, where they engage in activities such as eating, sleeping, reading books, or playing board games. At 3.30 pm, tea is served to all inmates along with snacks.Jail superintendents and senior officers have raised concerns about overcrowding as the major obstacle affecting security and other arrangements. They have pointed out that the abundance of inmates makes it easy for them to acquire utensils, furniture pieces, and wood, which they can then fashion into weapons. Regular checks are conducted only on a weekly basis, allowing inmates to frequently hide weapons among groceries, according to an officers statement.
