(In)famous assault and death cases reported at Sada Sub Jail in last two years
While the police were investigating the death of Sanjay Chawan, an inmate arrested in a theft case and was serving Judicial custody at sada sub jail was assaulted by an undertrial murder accused namely Sujit Kumar Singh (33), another inmate Vinayak Karbotkar who was known history-sheeter and was killed during escape bid have exposed chinks in the Sada Sub Jail. Similarly, the famous assault case on Mining activists Ravindra Velip remained inconclusive and allowed the inmates to continue with the old and traditional affair of this prison (ragging of new inmates) putting lives of inmates to risk. An undertrial inmate Riyaz Ibrahim (35) was assaulted by senior inmate/s (identity not revealed) for not obeying the rules set by the senior inmates of the jail. In a similar case one undertrial Narayan Lala along with other three, including Wasim Kalegar, Ajmal Shaikh and Mustafa Shaikh, assaulted and abused police constable attached to IRB camp Panaji Vaibhav Bandekar inside the jail premises. In another incident, inmate Wasim Kaligar along with Abhinandan Patil assaulted police constable Paresh Vishwanath Faldessai, attached with escort police.
Dilapidated premises
Surrounded by a more than three-meter-high compound wall, the sada sub-jail building possibly can be the best example of substandard work undertaken by government contractor. Inaugurated by the then chief Minister Pratap Singh Rane in 1996, the building is not very old. nevertheless the structure has weakened is crumbling. Some months ago, the extended portion of Chajja (concrete portion built over windows 4 protection) and near the cell number 10 collapsed, while incidents of leaking roof and cement plaster coming down crashing had become a regular affair. From overflowing sewerage chambers to stinking toilets and dilapidated kitchen, this fail facility was left to operate in dilapidated condition and the serious thought on repairs was given only after the last Chajja collapse incident and now after all the inmates have been shifted, PWD would soon take up extensive repairs of jail building but whether situation would improve only time will tell.
With regards to the recent incident where inmates made an attempt to escape, it has come to light that merely by using force, the inmates from cell number 13 managed to break the grill. Similarly, the inmates were aware of the fact that the window grills have become weak and thus they broke the same as well as other doors using force and not with any tool.
Misuse of jail vehicles, including ambulance
While the jail authorities have been demanding new vehicles for official use, a brand new ambulance attached to Sada Sub Jail which is meant to be used only to ferry the inmates in distress was caught red handed while ferrying fish and other essential commodities from the market. The brand new ambulance still has seats covered with the plastic but as the jail authorities often use the ambulance for transporting fish and other essential commodities, the ambulance has been stinking due to which the inmates many a times have been avoiding to get themselves ferried to the hospitals during emergencies. Interestingly, after Herald highlighted the issue, the senior jail officials ordered probe to fix the responsibility but the inquiry remained inconclusive.
Who was Vinayak Karbotkar
After killing the seasoned criminal Ashpak Bengre at Colvale Central Jail in Goa, Vinayak Karbotkar, another history-sheeter who was brought back to Goa from Nasik jail on transfer warrant due to his involvement in numerous cases in Goa became quite “rage” among the criminals lodged at Colvale and Sada Sub Jail. Karbotkar was booked in 13 criminal cases at Porvorim, Calangute, Ponda, Agasaim and Mapusa police stations, of which eight cases are pending trial and in three cases police filed ‘A Final’ report. He was acquitted in one case and one case was compounded.
It is learnt from reliable sources that Karbotkar had maintained a very good rapport with Bengre in Colvale jail although he claims of previous enmity and fight at Calangute. However, Vinayak allegedly attacked Ashpak to save the life of one of his friend whose murder was being plotted by Ashpak.
