Odisha wakes up to surprise raids on multiple jails

A huge cache of narcotics products was seized during a surprise raid at Sambalpur Mandal Jail early Friday morning. The raid started at 3:30 am and continued till 6:30 am in the presence of the Magistrate, Sambalpur Additional SP and Sadar SDPO.

Following the anti-tobacco raid at the jail, tobacco products, bidi, and lighters were seized from the inmates.

“We entered the jail at around 3:15 am and started the raid by 3:30 am. We checked all the 22 wards along with the bathrooms and latrines. We have seized some tobacco products, bidi, lighters, and other narcotics products. We have also seized ‘bhang’ from the inmates. We will submit a report in this connection after which necessary steps will be taken,” informed Haresh Chandra Pandey, Additional SP.

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“The raid was conducted in the presence of the IICs and other police personnel. We have seized not ganja but ‘bhang’. Apart from this, bidi, lighters, and khaini were seized. We could not locate mobile phones or any money from the inmates. It was a surprise check and the inmates were asleep,” informed Swadhin Behera, Executive Magistrate, Sambalpur. 

Worth mentioning, that there are 576 inmates lodged in 22 wards of the jail. Apart from Sambalpur, the raids were also conducted in Bargarh jail, reports said.