MHA to states, UTs: Radicalisation in prisons needs to be identified, dealt with

Identifying radicalisation in prisons across India as a threat to the internal security of the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a comprehensive set of guidelines to all states and Union Territories to identify, monitor and rehabilitate radicalised individuals in jails and other correctional facilities within their jurisdiction.

Amid growing concern over the issue, the ministry has stressed the urgent need for proactive measures to prevent vulnerable inmates from adopting extremist ideologies under the influence of elements involved in the destructive activities.

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The MHA has also urged them to incorporate the guidelines in their prison management practices to address the critical issue of radicalisation in prisons in a “structured, effective, and proactive manner.”

It noted that “prisons, due to their isolated and controlled environment, can serve as breeding grounds for extremist beliefs, particularly among inmates experiencing alienation, anti-social tendencies, or susceptibility to violence.”

“Radicalisation in prisons is becoming an increasingly critical challenge in the global context and is often found to be a precursor to several criminal activities. It has therefore been felt that there is an urgent need to check and counter radicalisation of vulnerable individuals in prison settings and to undertake an exercise for de-radicalisation of such individuals, as the same is considered crucial for preserving public order and ensuring internal security,” said the guidelines.

“Radicalisation can be typically dangerous, as prisons are closed spaces where social isolation, group dynamics and lack of oversight can foster extreme points of view,” the MHA noted.

Identification and risk assessment in states and UTs need to develop standardised screening tools for the identification of inmates, the guidelines said.

“These tools can help in assessing the behavioural patterns, associations, and ideology-based indicators of all prisoners admitted to Prison Institutions. Individual risk assessments should be periodically conducted both at the time of entry of the prisoner and during his or her period of incarceration at periodic intervals. For this, prison departments may coordinate with the law enforcement and intelligence agency units in the state and UT for identifying inmates who can pose a risk of radical influence to other inmates,” the MHA said.

High-risk inmates who are inclined towards propagating the ideology of radicalisation should be segregated from the general prison population to minimise the risk of indoctrination, the guidelines suggested.

“These inmates should be kept under enhanced surveillance using monitoring tools and intelligence mechanisms to detect and address potential threats and radical networks within the prison. At places where setting up an independent High Security Complex is not feasible, it may be ensured that Prisons develop a separate wing/ block for such hardened criminals so as not to allow the mingling of such prisoners with other or first-time offender prisoners, in particular.”

The MHA also talked about Rehabilitation Programmes for prisoners and advised that Regular “Targeted De-radicalisation programmes” tailored for individual inmates’ psychological and ideological needs need to be adopted in its guidelines.

“These may include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, counselling by mental health professionals, and engagement with qualified religious scholars and trained activities such as vocational training, formal education, and recreational programmes, which would help redirect their focus and promote a positive sense of identity and purpose,” the ministry said.

It also suggested training programmes, such as workshops and simulation exercises, to help prison staff identify early signs of radicalisation and respond effectively to such situations.

The government guidelines further asked all concerned that promoting continued contact between inmates and their family members may contribute to their emotional stability and can act as a moderating influence.

“States and UTs may therefore pay attention to this fact,” the ministry said in the instructions.

“States and UTs need to maintain a secure database on radicalised individuals to support monitoring, policy-making, and evaluation. Research and documentation of radicalisation trends, inmate profiles, and outcomes of de-radicalisation efforts should be encouraged to enable future strategies and evidence-based reforms,” the guidelines added.

Earlier, the MHA had written to all states and UTs on April 16, 2018 and January 9, 2023, for ensuring segregation, surveillance and counselling of hardcore and radicalised prisoners and to take suitable reformative steps for countering the threat of radicalisation in prisons.