PANJIM: The Prisons Department has initiated an inquiry into the infamous ‘illegal party club’ at Sada sub-jail with jail officials and family members of some inmates suspected of smuggling banned products in the premises.
“We are neither ruling out nor admitting. The Inquiry has begun,” was the reply of Inspector General of Prisons Elvis Gomes to Herald’s question whether it would inquire into the role of jail officials’ nexus with prisoners lodged in the sub-jail. He however maintained that “there could be black sheep” but denied easy flow of liquor in the jail.
The prisons officials are now pointing fingers on the visiting family members of some of the jail inmates. Gomes said since female jail guards were not sufficient to frisk women visitors, it has recently raised the staff strength of women personnel to 10 while 30 additional male guards will be deployed soon.
Moreover, inefficiency during the frisking of inmates on returning from court or medical examination was pointed out
during a press briefing on Wednesday. “Nothing can be ruled out,” Gomes said admitting existence of stray incident of mobiles and tobacco smoking.
There have been allegations that outdoor travels are an opportunity for the inmates to carry contraband products inside the jail, knowing they will not be frisked.
The IGP informed that two mobile phones were confiscated from inmates earlier this month. “Inmates caught with mobile phones are banned from visiting or purchasing anything from the canteen (within the premise). This is their punishment,” he said.
To a question about transferring jail personnel considering that majority are serving at their current place of posting for a long time, Gomes replied in positive. He however quickly added that with few prisons in the State, regular transfers were not possible. “Now with the coming of Colvale jail, there will be only the Sada jail and two sub jails,” he said further.
