Team Herald
MAPUSA / COLVALE: Four policemen, among them a deputy superintendent, were suspended on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in smuggling drugs into the Central Jail at Colvale, putting another stamp on the prison’s dubious status as a hotbed for crimes like smuggling and drug trafficking.
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Last month, an IRB constable, Navdeep Pavane, was suspended after he was caught attempting to smuggle narcotics and mobile phones into the jail during a routine frisking. Pavane is suspected of having links with policemen suspended on Tuesday. Those include Deputy Superintendent of Jails Krishna Usgaonkar, IRB ASI Suraj Toraskar, Head Constable Rameshwar Talkar, and Constable Prasad Shetye.
They were accused of facilitating the supply of drugs to inmates, with reports indicating that they had struck a deal worth Rs 5 lakh for this. Following an inquiry, all four were suspended, though the exact type of drugs involved has not yet been disclosed. The incident first came to light last week after a raid was conducted in one of the accused’s rooms, where they reportedly confessed to smuggling drugs into the facility.
The recent suspensions shed light on a wider issue of illegal activities at the Colvale Jail, which has become a hub for smuggling operations. Sources within the jail administration reveal that criminals – sometimes with political backing – have exploited advanced technologies, including drones, to bypass the high-security walls of the prison. Drones are reportedly used to drop contraband, such as drugs and mobile phones, into the jail grounds under the cover of darkness.
