Raid in Bhubaneswar Jharpada jail; Ganja, tobacco products seized

A day after the group clash between the inmates, a team of Commissionerate Police led by DCP Prateek Singh conducted a surprise check at Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

Speaking about the searches, Singh said, “We did an exercise to check all the areas of Jharapada jail. The purpose of the exercise was to make sure there were no contraband or communication devices like mobile phones inside the jail. Five ADCP, 13 Inspectors, 20 Sub-Inspectors and four platoons of force searched all the 35 male wards in five blocks, female ward, 21 cells, kitchen, common area, theatre and the peripheral area of the jail.”

According to Singh, almost all the wards were found to be clean. No such prohibited materials were found inside the jail, except for a small amount of Ganja, khaini, beedi, chillam and lighter. These materials were seized from the common areas of the jail and not from any inmate’s possession, he said.

"We will make regular searches in the jail and watch the activities of the inmates. We have spoken with the jail staff and we will try to increase the security of the jail so that the contrabands cannot enter the jail anymore,” Singh said.

When asked about the group clash in which four inmates of the jail were injured, Singh said, “We have spoken with the jail authorities in this regard. They have isolated the accused inmates. We are questioning them.”

Though DG (Prisons) Amrit Mohan Prasad did not respond to why such incidents are happening in Jharpada and other jails of Odisha, he said, "We are taking steps. We are carrying out departmental investigations into what happened inside the Jharpada jail. Action will be taken against those found guilty in the incident.”

It is pertinent to mention here that four inmates reportedly sustained injuries following a clash in high-security Jharpada jail late on Monday night. An inmate identified as Papu Barik lost one of his eyes in the alleged assault by 'Chakra' gang. Chakra was nabbed by Commissionerate Police following an encounter and lodged at the Jharpada jail.