Madras Central Prison was one of the oldest prisons in India. It was located in Chennai (formerly Madras) in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It became operational during the British Raj period. Its prisoners were moved to the newly constructed Puzhal Central Prison starting in 2006, with the 172 year old prison being demolished in June 2009.[1]
Madras Central Prison
A section of the Madras Central Prison before demolition in 2009
Madras Central Prison was one of the oldest prisons in India. It was started during British rule in 1837. It was initially called the Madras penitentiary until 1855 when it was renamed to Central Jail.[2] It was originally built to house transit convicts who were to face the 'sazaye kaala paani' in Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and constructed at the cost of Rs 16,496 on 11 acres (45,000 m2) of land.[3]
It is said that the call for independence found its echo more in the Madras Presidency than elsewhere in the princely States. Many of those freedom fighters were arrested and lodged here; it is said a few of them died in custody.[4]
There were 1,778 prisoners in the prison as of January 2002, of which 500 required to be produced in different courts in Chennai and mofussil (rural) areas including Tiruchi, Madurai, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli.[5]
Notable prisoners
Abandoned corridors of the Madras Central Prison pictured in 2009
In 1999, some of the inmates rioted following the death of an inmate named Boxer Vadivelu. They set fire to a room where the assistant warden had taken refuge. Riot police were called in to contain the riots; the police initially used tear gas to quell the rioters, before resorting to live ammunition. In the battle which ensued between the inmates and the riot police, 10 people, including a prison official, were killed, while more than 100 people were injured.[7]
Relocation
The Madras Central prisoners were relocated to Puzhal Central Prison in Puzhal in 2006 and the vacant property was handed over to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) for revenue augmentation purpose in 2008. The cost of the 13-acre (53,000 m2) land was estimated conservatively at Rs. 4.75 billion.[8] Demolition of the buildings began on 14 June 2009.[9]
New buildings for Madras Medical College
In 2010, a new campus with a six-storeyed building for Madras Medical College was built on a land covering 325,000 sq ft on the prison premises and was completed in 2012 at a cost of ₹ 566.3 million. The campus will have nearly 1,250 students and 400 faculty and staff members.[10]
^"150-yr-old Central prison closed for good". Times of India. 19 January 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
^. The Hindu. 20 January 2009. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
^"Chennai set to lose a slice of its history". Express Buzz. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
^ abc"After 172 years, Madras Central Prison sent to the gallows". Indian Express. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
^Subramani, A. (20 January 2002). "Chennai Central Prison officials in a fix". The Hindu. Chennai. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
^"Central prison to become history". Deccan Chronicle. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
^"Inquiry into Madras prison riot". BBC News. BBC. 18 November 1999. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
^. The Hindu. 28 February 2008. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Demolition of Central Jail begins". Dina Mani. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
^Lakshmi, K. (29 May 2013). "Skywalk between GH, new MMC campus proposed for easy connectivity". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
December 28, 2022
madras, central, prison, oldest, prisons, india, located, chennai, formerly, madras, indian, state, tamil, nadu, became, operational, during, british, period, prisoners, were, moved, newly, constructed, puzhal, central, prison, starting, 2006, with, year, pris. Madras Central Prison was one of the oldest prisons in India It was located in Chennai formerly Madras in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu It became operational during the British Raj period Its prisoners were moved to the newly constructed Puzhal Central Prison starting in 2006 with the 172 year old prison being demolished in June 2009 1 Madras Central PrisonA section of the Madras Central Prison before demolition in 2009LocationChennai Tamil Nadu IndiaCoordinates13 04 47 N 80 16 22 E 13 07974 N 80 272915 E 13 07974 80 272915StatusDemolishedOpened1837Closed2009 Contents 1 History 2 Notable prisoners 3 1999 riots 4 Relocation 5 New buildings for Madras Medical College 6 See also 7 ReferencesHistory EditMadras Central Prison was one of the oldest prisons in India It was started during British rule in 1837 It was initially called the Madras penitentiary until 1855 when it was renamed to Central Jail 2 It was originally built to house transit convicts who were to face the sazaye kaala paani in Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and constructed at the cost of Rs 16 496 on 11 acres 45 000 m2 of land 3 It is said that the call for independence found its echo more in the Madras Presidency than elsewhere in the princely States Many of those freedom fighters were arrested and lodged here it is said a few of them died in custody 4 There were 1 778 prisoners in the prison as of January 2002 of which 500 required to be produced in different courts in Chennai and mofussil rural areas including Tiruchi Madurai Coimbatore and Tirunelveli 5 Notable prisoners Edit Abandoned corridors of the Madras Central Prison pictured in 2009 The prison housed Subhas Chandra Bose and Veer Savarkar during the days of independence movement C N Annadurai former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and leader of Dravidian Movement was housed here for his Anti Hindi agitations 4 The prison also housed former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi and chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalitha during the trial involving corruption cases 6 Also several international figures including LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran Maoist leader of Nepal Chandra Prakash Gajurel were imprisoned here 4 1999 riots EditIn 1999 some of the inmates rioted following the death of an inmate named Boxer Vadivelu They set fire to a room where the assistant warden had taken refuge Riot police were called in to contain the riots the police initially used tear gas to quell the rioters before resorting to live ammunition In the battle which ensued between the inmates and the riot police 10 people including a prison official were killed while more than 100 people were injured 7 Relocation EditThe Madras Central prisoners were relocated to Puzhal Central Prison in Puzhal in 2006 and the vacant property was handed over to Chennai Metro Rail Limited CMRL for revenue augmentation purpose in 2008 The cost of the 13 acre 53 000 m2 land was estimated conservatively at Rs 4 75 billion 8 Demolition of the buildings began on 14 June 2009 9 New buildings for Madras Medical College EditIn 2010 a new campus with a six storeyed building for Madras Medical College was built on a land covering 325 000 sq ft on the prison premises and was completed in 2012 at a cost of 566 3 million The campus will have nearly 1 250 students and 400 faculty and staff members 10 See also Edit India portal Law portalArchitecture of Chennai Heritage structures in ChennaiReferences Edit 150 yr old Central prison closed for good Times of India 19 January 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2009 Prison building demolition proposal forwarded to government The Hindu 20 January 2009 Archived from the original on 29 January 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2009 Chennai set to lose a slice of its history Express Buzz 20 June 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2009 a b c After 172 years Madras Central Prison sent to the gallows Indian Express 18 February 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2009 Subramani A 20 January 2002 Chennai Central Prison officials in a fix The Hindu Chennai Archived from the original on 26 January 2013 Retrieved 14 November 2012 Central prison to become history Deccan Chronicle 20 January 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2009 Inquiry into Madras prison riot BBC News BBC 18 November 1999 Retrieved 26 June 2009 Chennai Metro Rail Ltd to develop prison land near Park Station The Hindu 28 February 2008 Archived from the original on 15 March 2008 Retrieved 26 June 2009 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint unfit URL link Demolition of Central Jail begins Dina Mani 17 June 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2009 Lakshmi K 29 May 2013 Skywalk between GH new MMC campus proposed for easy connectivity The Hindu Chennai Retrieved 30 June 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Madras Central Prison amp oldid 1110947962, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
