In Gujarat Prisons, inmates enjoy all luxuries of outside world

Surat : The place where the phrase “parinda par nahi maar sakta” (a bird cannot reach there) first appeared was in prisons. However, in Gujarat’s prisons, inmates have access to modern conveniences like cell phones, gutkha, opium, ganja, and even outside food. Money, money, and more money to feed the greedy and corrupt jail staff is all the inmates need to enjoy the luxuries of the outside life.

It came as no surprise to the Gujarat Government’s Home Department when orders were issued to conduct surprise raids in Central prisons across the state, primarily in Surat, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, and Vadodara. On Friday night, hundreds of police officers led by their superiors raided the prisons while the inmates were sleeping.

The situation was even worse at the Central Jail in Lajpore, about 15 kilometres from Surat. This prison houses over 2,500 inmates, some of whom are serving life sentences for heinous crimes, as well as criminals sentenced under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organized Crime (GUJCTOC) Act.

The raiding teams were taken aback when they discovered large quantities of tobacco, opium, and ganja in the cushions used by inmates at Lajpore Central Jail. To avoid the prying eyes of the cops, the material was stuffed inside the cushions.

However, questions have been raised about how inmates get all of the luxuries of the outside world within the four walls of the prison. Who are the people supplying opium, ganja, and tobacco products in the jail? Is it true that the jail authorities conduct frequent check-ins? Where do inmates get their mobile phones inside the jail? Who is responsible for the illegal activities taking place in prisons?

A senior police officer asking anonymity told The Blunt Times, “Without the permission of the guards, inmates cannot bring in contraband like tobacco, opium, ganja, or mobile phones. Prisons have stringent safety measures in place, and visitors are given their own private area in which to meet inmates. Money games are the norm in Gujarat’s central prisons.”