CISF to secure five more prisons in Jammu and Kashmir, including high-security facility

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is planning to deploy the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at five additional prisons in Jammu and Kashmir, including a high-security prison in Kathua that is not yet operational, a CISF spokesperson said on Sunday (June 21, 2026).

The proposed expansion covers the high-security prison at Mahanpur in Kathua district, which will hold inmates involved in serious offences including terrorism, as well as district jails in Jammu, Anantnag, Kupwara, and Baramulla. The CISF had been earlier entrusted with providing armed security at the Central jails in Srinagar and Jammu (Kot Bhalwal) in October 2023.

The CISF is responsible for securing both the inner and outer perimeters of these sensitive facilities through trained personnel, modern surveillance systems, and strict access control measures, the spokesperson explained.

To check crimes such as narcotics smuggling in the two existing Central prisons, the CISF has deployed non-linear junction detectors capable of detecting concealed electronic circuits, dual-view X-ray baggage inspection systems, and hand-held metal detectors at all entry points. Mobile bulletproof vehicles and round-the-clock quick reaction team patrols have also been put in place to secure prison perimeters.

Further security upgrades include the integration of AI-enabled CCTV systems with advanced video analytics for real-time monitoring and anomaly detection, unified command-and-control systems, and specialised training in behavioural analysis, inmate profiling, and anti-sabotage measures.

“Encouraged by the effectiveness of the current deployment, plans are under consideration for extending CISF security cover to additional correctional facilities across Jammu & Kashmir, including High Security Prison Mahanpur (Kathua), District Jail Jammu, District Jail Anantnag, District Jail Kupwara, and District Jail Baramulla. The expansion is aimed at creating a standardised and professional security architecture across the prison network of the Union Territory,” the CISF said. The deployment assumes significance in view of the complex security challenges associated with high-security prisons, it added.

To review security arrangements, CISF Director General Praveer Ranjan visited Central Jail Srinagar on June 8, where he held detailed discussions with prison authorities, reviewed operational preparedness, and assessed the effectiveness of the existing security architecture.