Jamshedpur: Three trained Jharkhand Agency for Promotion of Information Technology (JAP-IT) personnel have started monitoring the footage of 170 CCTV cameras installed inside Ghaghidih Central Jail here from Saturday.

Although the cameras had been installed more than a month ago, there were no trained professionals to watch the footage 24/7.

Jail superintendent Saty-endra Kumar Chaudhury said the JAP-IT personnel had been deputed from its headquarters in Ranchi.

"The personnel will monitor the footage on a rotational basis each having an eight-hour shift," Chaudhury told The Telegraph and added they were hired from the private agency which installed 146 cameras a month ago. The prison earlier had 24 cameras which were grossly inadequate to keep an eye on the prisoners.

"Monitoring so many CCTV cameras in a central jail is tough job and needs thorough knowledge of what to focus upon. We are assisting the trio in carrying out the job," said Chaudhury.

Sarvesh Singhal, chief executive officer, JAP-IT, confirmed about the deputation of three personnel of a private agency attached to JAP-IT at the central jail.

"Staff of the private agency that installed the CCTV cameras will maintain and operate the system for the next three years. This is why three personnel from the firm have been deputed at the jail," said Singhal.

The JAP-IT CEO said the personnel will train the prison staff how to monitor the CCTV cameras effectively.

Sprawling over 20 acres, Ghaghidih jail has a capacity of 1,447 inmates, but currently houses 1,630 most of whom are under trial. Manpower is grossly inadequate. Against 210 sanctioned posts, there are 58 guards of whom only 11 are trained. Hence, proper frisking of undertrial prisoners during court dates is rare.

"As the prison does not have enough security guards and jammers to block mobile signals, installation of an additional 146 CCTV cameras with 24/7 monitoring will definitely help in keeping watch," said a senior prison staff.

A month ago, a police raid inside the jail had yielded mobile phone handsets, SIM cards, a phone charger and a kitchen knife. "Crime bosses who have been running gangland empires from their cell will no longer have a free run now as there will be 24/7 monitoring of the CCTV camera footage," an official said.

In July last year, the jail authorities recovered 33 cellphones and 15 mobile chargers during a raid.