Bhubaneswar: Two days after four inmates were injured in a group clash at the Jharpada Jail in Odisha capital, the Commissionerate Police conducted a surprise raid and seized small amounts of contraband items like ganja, gutka, bidi, khaini, matchboxes and lighters from the premises early on Wednesday.
Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh accompanied by two Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, five Additional Commissioner of Police, 11 inspectors and 22 sub-inspectors with four platoons of police force conducted the raid.
According to police sources, the raid was conducted to detect contraband items or communication devices used by the jail inmates.
Singh told the media that all the 35 male wards in five blocks, female ward, 21 cells, kitchen area, theatre, common and peripheral areas of the jail were searched. The contraband items were recovered from the common area and not with the inmates, but no mobile phones or other communication devices were found. “Regular searches will now be conducted in the jail and the inmates will be watched. The security of the jail will also be tightened so that the contrabands become out of inmates’ reach,” he said.
Updating about the incident on Wednesday, the DCP said the accused inmates have been isolated and are being interrogated.
The raid was conducted hours after Singh briefed the media about the group clash in the jail premises. Singh had said that a small argument had led to the violent clash. He also refuted speculation that an inmate had lost vision in one eye. “The injury was minor,” he had said during a presser.
