UTP’s of Petty Offences in Odisha May be in House Arrest With GPS Tracking Anklets

Bhubaneswar: Odisha plans to become the first state in the country to use GPS-enabled tracking anklets for house arrest of under-trial prisoners (UTPs) accused of non-heinous crimes.

This will reduce the crowding of jails and will also decrease the government’s expenditure on jail inmates.

According to reports, the tracking devices to be attached to the ankles of UTPs are estimated to cost between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000.

Director General of prisons, Dr Manoj Chhabra informed the media that the state prison department has sent a proposal regarding the use of this technology to the state government.

Through these devices, the UTPs of petty offences can be confined to their houses and police will be alerted if the UTP tries to cross the designated area programmed into the device.

Dr Chhabra proposed that during the grant of bail, the UTP may be provided the options of jail or bail. If the UTP chooses bail, the tracking device would be mandatory for them.

According to Dr Chhabra, instead of the government procuring the tracking devices, the UTPs may be asked to purchase the device in lieu of bail.