Arthur Road Jail

Arthur Road Jail
Name	Arthur Road Jail
Location	Mumbai, India
Status	Operational
Capacity	800
Opened	1926

Arthur Road Jail is a historic prison located in Mumbai, India, known for housing several high-profile inmates, including Arun Gawli, Sanjay Dutt, and Ajmal Kasab. The jail has been in operation since 1926 and has a capacity of 800 inmates, although it often exceeds this number, with prisoners being held in conditions similar to those found in Tihar Jail and Yerwada Central Prison. The jail has been associated with several notable events, including the Mumbai terrorist attack and the 1993 Mumbai bombings, which led to the arrest and imprisonment of Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon. The jail's conditions have been compared to those found in Alipore Jail and Presidency Jail.

Introduction

Arthur Road Jail is one of the oldest and most notorious prisons in India, with a rich history dating back to the British Raj. The jail has been mentioned in several works, including Aravind Adiga's novel The White Tiger, which highlights the harsh conditions faced by prisoners in Indian prisons. The jail has also been associated with several prominent Indian National Congress leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, who were imprisoned in Yerwada Central Prison and Sabarmati Jail during the Indian independence movement. The jail's architecture is similar to that of Red Fort and Cellular Jail, which were built during the British colonial era. The jail has been visited by several dignitaries, including Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, who have spoken out against the harsh conditions faced by prisoners in South African prisons and Indian prisons.

History

The history of Arthur Road Jail dates back to 1926, when it was built by the British colonial government to house prisoners during the Indian independence movement. The jail was designed to accommodate 800 prisoners, but it often exceeded this number, with prisoners being held in conditions similar to those found in Kolkata's Alipore Jail and Chennai's Puzhal Central Prison. The jail has been associated with several notable events, including the Quit India Movement and the Indian National Army trials, which led to the imprisonment of Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh. The jail has also been mentioned in several works, including Rabindranath Tagore's novel Gora, which highlights the struggles faced by prisoners in Indian prisons during the British Raj. The jail's conditions have been compared to those found in Singapore's Changi Prison and Malaysia's Kamunting Detention Centre.

Facilities and Conditions

The facilities and conditions at Arthur Road Jail have been a subject of concern for several years, with prisoners facing overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate healthcare. The jail has a total of 16 barracks, each designed to accommodate 50 prisoners, but often housing over 100 prisoners, similar to conditions found in Tihar Jail and Yerwada Central Prison. The jail has a hospital, a library, and a recreation room, but these facilities are often inadequate, with prisoners relying on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders for support. The jail's conditions have been compared to those found in Bangladesh's Dhaka Central Jail and Pakistan's Lahore Central Jail. The jail has been visited by several dignitaries, including Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon, who have spoken out against the harsh conditions faced by prisoners in African prisons and Asian prisons.

Notable Inmates

Arthur Road Jail has housed several high-profile inmates over the years, including Arun Gawli, Sanjay Dutt, and Ajmal Kasab. The jail has also housed several prominent Mumbai underworld figures, including Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan, who were involved in the 1993 Mumbai bombings and the Mumbai terrorist attack. The jail has been associated with several notable cases, including the Jessica Lall murder case and the Neeraj Grover murder case, which led to the imprisonment of Manu Sharma and Maria Susairaj. The jail's inmates have included several prominent Bollywood actors, including Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, who have been involved in several high-profile cases, including the Blackbuck poaching case and the Bollywood underworld.

Security and Controversies

The security at Arthur Road Jail has been a subject of concern for several years, with several instances of violence and riots reported in the jail. The jail has been criticized for its poor security measures, including the use of Taser guns and batons to control prisoners, similar to conditions found in United States prisons and Australian prisons. The jail has been associated with several controversies, including the 2011 Mumbai bombings and the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, which led to the arrest and imprisonment of several high-profile inmates, including Zabiuddin Ansari and Fahim Ansari. The jail's security has been compared to that of Guantanamo Bay detention center and Abu Ghraib prison. The jail has been visited by several dignitaries, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, who have spoken out against the human rights abuses faced by prisoners in Indian prisons.

Rehabilitation Efforts

The rehabilitation efforts at Arthur Road Jail have been limited, with several prisoners reporting a lack of access to education and vocational training programs, similar to conditions found in South African prisons and Brazilian prisons. The jail has a few programs in place, including a literacy program and a vocational training program, but these programs are often inadequate, with prisoners relying on NGOs such as Prison Fellowship International and International Justice Mission for support. The jail has been associated with several rehabilitation initiatives, including the Indian government's National Rehabilitation Policy, which aims to provide prisoners with access to education and vocational training programs, similar to those found in Norwegian prisons and Swedish prisons. The jail's rehabilitation efforts have been compared to those found in Canadian prisons and German prisons. The jail has been visited by several dignitaries, including Jimmy Carter and Desmond Tutu, who have spoken out against the harsh conditions faced by prisoners in African prisons and Asian prisons.

Category:Prisons in India