Kullu sub jail to be upgraded as first dist prison of Lahaul-Spiti

Lahaul and Spiti district is set to get its first prison at Kullu. The Department of Prisons and Correctional Services has sent a proposal to the state government to convert the sub jail at Kullu into the first District Jail of Lahaul and Spiti.

A spokesperson for the Department of Prisons and Correctional Services said that the work on the new jail in Kullu was going on. “A proposal to convert the existing building of the sub jail at Kullu into a District Jail of Lahaul and Spiti, besides shifting the Sub Jail to the new building has been forwarded to the government.”

He said that the decision was taken as convicts from Lahaul and Spiti were kept in the sub jail and over the years, their number had increased, leading to overcrowding there.

Lahaul and Spiti has a population of 31,528, including 15,073 females, and the crime rate in the district is very low compared to other districts. It is the largest district of the state area wise but a jail has not yet been constructed there owing to its tough geographical conditions and the low crime rate.

The district has three police stations at Keylong, Udaipur and Kaza and three police posts. Besides, the government had also approved a police station at Sissu in the Cabinet meeting recently.

Lahaul and Spiti SP Mayank Chaudhary said that most of the crimes reported in the district were of road accidents. He added that with the construction of the Atal Tunnel, the number of vehicles and tourists in the district had risen.

He added that this year, seven cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were registered in the district. Similarly, a number of cyber fraud cases were registered in the district.

The Department of Prisons and Correctional Services is set to construct three jails in Shimla, Solan and Kangra districts. There are 15 jails in the state, having the capacity to accommodate around 2,400 inmates. However, there are more than 3,000 inmates have been accommodated in these jails.

Low crime rate

• Lahaul and Spiti has a population of 31,528, including 15,073 females, and the crime rate in the district is very low compared to other districts
• It is the largest district of the state area wise but a jail has not yet been constructed there owing to its tough geographical conditions and the low crime rate
• The district has three police stations at Keylong, Udaipur and Kaza and three police posts