DHARWAD: The Central Jail in Dharwad, Karnataka, has turned out to be a ‘fight club’ for prisoners.
According to insiders, at least two fights break out in a month. Most of the fights are over sharing narcotic substances that are smuggled into the prison. A rowdy-sheeter was injured in one such fight on June 6.
With a shortage of staff, jail authorities are struggling hard to stop narcotics from entering the jail premises.
Despite 50 CCTV cameras fixed on the outer wall of the prison, it is still difficult to nab the miscreants who throw narcotics into the jail premises. They use cricket balls to smuggle ganja into the jail. They cut open the ball and stuff narcotics substance into it and throw the ball onto the prison ground after sealing it, according to sources. The inmates who are aware of it, collect the cricket balls. This is leading to fights among inmates.
Jail Superintendent P S Ramesh said the jail has a single compound wall across which it is easy to throw narcotics. Marijuana and liquor are the two substances that make their way into the jail premises.
“I have requested higher authorities to deploy 30 personnel from the Karnataka Industrial Security Force to guard the jail”, the officer said.
Authorities point out that the jail is crowded. The jail can handle 500 prisoners but at present there are 652 inmates. Approximately 200 prisoners are watched by one warden. Out of the sanctioned 121 posts, around 60 are vacant.
“We have also asked local police to take up extra patrolling rounds and instructions have been given to jail officials to check the premises every morning before the prisoners are let out from the barrack,” the officer said.