Here is another incident that should be of concern to the government. How did bhang, a stimulant drink, find its way into the Colvale Central Jail?
We have heard of cell phones and other banned substances having been seized at the jails in the State, especially at the sub-jail at Sada, Vasco, but bhang in jail is a first. And its presence at the jail would have probably gone unnoticed, or perhaps even overlooked had it been noticed, if some of the prisoners and staff had not fallen ill and been rushed to hospital after consuming it. It is only because a few jail inmates complained of feeling unwell that the reason for their discomfort was revealed. Of course, they don’t easily admit to knowingly drinking the stimulant, some claiming that it was given to them mixed in milk. This calls for a major inquiry, especially given the past history of jails in Goa.
A report has already been sought by the Inspector General of Prisons, and the Superintendent of Colvale Jail has submitted the report. It is likely that the jail guard who fell ill may face disciplinary action, for failing to report and stop the smuggling of the drink and also consuming it. But, surely he was not the only staffer of the jail to have joined in the ‘bhang party’. There would be others involved, especially since the drink was allegedly kept in a bucket and was offered by another jail inmate.
The big question that needs to be asked and answered is: how did the bhang evade the security and screening measures at the modern facility to find its way to the inmates and staff.
The immediate suspicion for bringing in the bhang falls on jail guards or staff, as visitors to the jail are checked at the entry, while the guards and staff do not go through any check as they enter. That narrows down the suspect list, which should make it easier for any inquiry that may be ordered. But when doing so the authorities need to look at another report on jails that had earlier recommended that no staff should be allowed to continue serving in the same jail for more than two years at a stretch so as to avoid friendly contact with the prisoners. If staff, guards and jail inmates fall sick after drinking bhang, then it is a definite indication that the staff and inmates are quite friendly with each other. No doubt Colvale Central Jail is still new, but this is one recommendation that needs to be adhered to following the incident in the jail this week.
Colvale jail also needs to be looked at with a fine tooth comb. Since its inauguration in 2015 it has seen gangster fights and killings and even brawls among the staff. Ashpaq Bengre, who was in Colvale jail, was murdered here by another inmate. Ironically, a jail guard was suspended after he, suspected to be under the influence of liquor at that time, allegedly got into a fight with an IRB personnel at the main gate. An anti-mining activist was also beaten up, though this happened in Sada sub-jail some months ago.
In the past, Sada sub-jail, especially, has had a string of unsavoury incidents. In 2013 various prohibited items like drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, mobile phones were found with the convicts and under-trials. Colvale jail, in less than three years of its existence is already beginning to gain some notoriety. The government has to act fast to tighten security checks so as to stop the smuggling of banned items into the jail. It has to also stop the fraternisation between the inmates and the staff.
