Team Herald
PANJIM: Although the small quantity of drug seizure outside the Colvale Jail on Monday night has not indicated direct involvement of any jail staff, the Mapusa police are likely to summon them for investigation.
Sandip Ghanekar and Babu Palyekar, one of whom is a rickshaw driver, were caught by the IRB staff posted at the entrance of the jail gate for the offence. As per the report submitted to Inspector General of Prisons Rajendra Mirajkar, the jail’s kitchen grinder, which had undergone repairs at a local shop, was brought back to the jail premises in the rickshaw. The IRB staff on frisking the vehicle and both individuals outside the main gate found 3 gms of charas hidden in the dashboard, following which both were handed over to the police and a case was filed.
Interestingly, this time, no jail staff or inmates’ involvement has come to the fore so far but the investigation team has decided to quiz the jail officials. “We will soon summon some jail staff and others concerned for questioning. Although the seizure is a small quantity (worth Rs 3,000), we have taken the investigation seriously to reach its logical conclusion,” Mapusa PI Kapil Nayak informed Herald.
The two accused have however been bailed out. This is the fourth drug raid in the last three months. Jail Superintendent Ajit Panchwadkar said security within and outside the jail premises is always on high alert. “The security is tightened so that no illegal activities take place or thrive inside the jail. As a result of this, we have managed to thwart smuggling of drugs and tobacco products,” he said.
