Berhampur: A joint team of police and the district administration conducted a surprise raid on the Circle Jail here this morning and seized cash, weapons and other objectionable articles from various prison cells.
According to reports, the joint team led by Amitabh Thakur, IG, Southern Range, Berhampur SP Ashish Kumar Singh and Ganjam collector Prem Chandra Choudhury raided the jail early in the morning in the presence of Senior Jail Superintendent and Jailor.
several policemen, including the OICS and IICS of different police stations in Ganjam and Berhampur police districts, took part in the raid.
Talking to our correspondent after the raid, Thakur said the police had information about some prisoners possessing some objectionable items.
“Acting on the information, the police and the district administration conducted a surprise raid in the morning. During the raid, we found several materials which are not allowed inside the jail. The seized articles include mobile phones, SIM cards, cigarettes, ganja and also weapons. Besides, huge amount of cash was also seized,” he said.
Cash, cigarettes and ganja were seized from the prison cell of former Sanakhemundi Congress MLA Ramesh Jena, the IG said.
Thakur said the police will investigate the entry of these banned materials inside the jail and departmental action would be taken against those responsible for allowing these materials in.
Berhampur SP Ashish Singh said the police was receiving frequent allegations by some people that they were getting threat calls from some criminals inside the jail asking them to pay money. On the basis of the information and allegations, we raided the jail and seized several materials.
“The seized materials include six mobile phones, three SIM cards, 200 packets of bidi, 80 packets of cigarette, 1200 pouches of gutkha, cash worth Rs 80,430 from different cells, including Rs 66,260 from the cell of Ramesh Jena, one gupti, two knives, 17 packets of ganja, some match-boxes and lighters. Besides, two pedestal fans and two table fans have also been seized from the cell of Ramesh Jena,” Singh said.
He said the raid was part of the drive of the district police against anti-socials.
The Ganjam collector said a thorough investigation would be conducted into the incident. But he said this is not the time to take a decision on the matter right now. "We will take a decision, if required,” he added.