If something happens to Dallewal, Centre may not be able to handle situation, say farmer leaders
Chandigarh, Jan 7: Punjab farmer leaders on Tuesday said if something untoward happens to Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is sitting on a fast-unto-death, then the Centre may not be able to handle the situation which could arise thereafter.
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar stressed that the Centre should resolve the farmers' issues in a serious manner.
According to farmers, Dallewal's health is "deteriorating" each passing day and "anything can happen to him".
Dallewal, 70, who is the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has been on the indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 over farmers' various demands including a legal guarantee of the minimum support price for crops.
Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered 43rd day on Tuesday, has so far refused to take any medical aid.
Addressing the media, Dr Avtar Singh, who is part of a team from NGO '5 Rivers Heart Association' said Dallewal's health condition worsened on Monday evening.
His blood pressure dropped and he vomited while lying on the bed, said the doctor.
His condition is deteriorating every day and anything can happen to him, he said.
Meanwhile, a team of government doctors also examined Dallewal at the Khanauri border.
Farmers said Dallewal's condition remained critical on Tuesday and that he was not able to talk to anyone.
Farmer leader Kohar said, "God forbid if anything untoward happens to Dallewal ji, then perhaps the situation may not remain under control of the Central government."
The Centre should make efforts so that the situation does not reach that level, he said.
"If anything happens to Dallewal, then there will be a 'blot' on the tenure of the present government at the Centre which may never be cleaned," said Kohar.
Lashing out at the Union government, he said it never happened even during the British rule that when a person is sitting on fast-unto-death and the government is not paying any attention to him.
Speaking about the next programmes, Kohar said effigies of the BJP government will be burnt on January 10 throughout the country against the Centre's attitude towards the demands of farmers.
"Dallewal is fighting to save the future of the country's farmers," he said.
The draft policy on 'National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing' will be burnt on January 13, he said.
On January 26, tractors of farmers will be on the roads across the country, he further said.
Farmers, under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13, after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.
On Monday, a Supreme Court-appointed panel met Dallewal and urged him to take medical aid. He has so far refused to take medical assistance, offered by the Punjab government following the apex court's directions.
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Bengaluru jail introduces biometric tracking system for prisoners
Bengaluru: In a bid to curb misconduct and illegal activities inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, prison authorities have introduced a new ‘Prisoners Tracking Movement System’ under which inmates will have to undergo biometric verification while entering every barrack.
According to jail officials, biometric systems have been installed across all major sections of the prison, including barracks, visitor rooms, hospital, canteen, kitchen, library, playground, handicraft units and bakery sections. Staff members have also been deployed at these locations.
Officials said inmates visiting the visitors’ room must now obtain a digital token after biometric verification. Details such as the prisoner’s name, identification number and entry time will be updated in the prison software system. This will help authorities maintain a complete digital record of inmates visiting and returning from meeting rooms.
Similar systems have also been introduced at entry points of the hospital, library and other barracks accessed for work-related purposes. Officials said the system will help identify prisoners involved in suspicious or illegal activities with other inmates and enable authorities to track how much time a prisoner spends at different locations inside the prison.
Authorities stated that AI-powered cameras were already being used inside the prison to monitor inmates as well as prison staff. Along with this, digital tracking of prisoner phone calls and a digital token system for visitor meetings have now been added to strengthen surveillance over inmate movement. Officials said the project has been implemented at a cost of around Rs 2.25 crore.
The prison department has also introduced a canteen usage tracking system to monitor prisoners’ spending patterns. Instead of direct cash payments, inmates can purchase bakery items and snacks using wallets or coupons issued within the prison system.
Officials said the digital system will record details including the buyer’s name, items purchased, quantity, date, time and remaining wallet balance. This will allow prison authorities to maintain complete expenditure records of inmates.
