Indian movies of yesteryear showed some of the north Indian States in a poor light and showcased them as examples of goondaraj and jungleraj, with prisoners running businesses from their cells. However, a look at the track record of Goan jails during the last decade will shed light on the pathetic state of affairs and how lavish life is for those who carry on with life with access to all the illegal substances.
On September 15, 2013, a jail guard attached to Sada sub-jail was suspended by the Prisons Department for allegedly trying to smuggle banned substances into the premises. On May 13, 2015, O Heraldo’s investigations unearthed details on the smuggling of drugs, alcohol, food and phones into the same Sada jail. The reporter accessed a murder undertrial’s pictures of a grand birthday bash inside Cell Number 5 of the jail, posted on WhatsApp, and exposed how jail guards were witness to cash being handed over to inmates during visiting hours or how escort police remain mute spectators as cash for purchases is handed over to prisoners during court hearings.
On March 6 last year, mobile phones and speakers were seized from prisoners during a surprise raid of Colvale Jail. The Inspector General of Police-Prisons (IGP) along with officers of IRBn and Central Jail, Colvale, carried out a surprise inspection raid across various cell blocks of the Central Jail, and found eight mobile phones, chargers and headphones of different brands, speakers and other contraband articles in illegal possession of the prisoners. Less than three months later, on June 3, 2023, over 30 cellphones and other electronic equipment including bluetooth speakers were seized from prisoners at the Central Jail at Colvale during a late night raid by Inspector General (IG) Prisons.
The recent exposé by the Cyberabad police drug raid at Gachibowli’s Radisson Blu, in Hyderabad, the police officials have found a link with the huge network of drug suppliers and peddlers operating out of Goa’s Colvale Jail.
Goa’s jails have become a haven for criminals and they carry out their illegal businesses sitting inside the jail cells. With access to everything they need from cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol and drugs, the illegalities make for a ‘superhit blockbuster’ of illegal rackets being carried out from within jail premises.
Over the last decade, there have been numerous cases of illegal substances seized and confiscated. But what action has been taken against the corrupt officials who facilitate these illegalities? Over a period of time these officials become the ‘blue-eyed boys’ and get longer terms to serve in the same position.
There is a systemic collapse to corruption and even an official of the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP), an IPS officer, is unable to curb these illegalities. From traffic cops being caught red-handed for corruption on roads to questions being raised on policing due to exposés by police of other States, Goa’s executive has a lot to answer.
Accountability begins from the top and the Chief Minister as the Home Minister has to take responsibility for the illegalities and put an end to the growing menace in the prisons. A jail term is for course correction of an individual’s life, but the illegalities point otherwise. Goa needs to be expressly saved from the systemic corruption before the State follows the path of jungle raj.
