How jail authorities keep fighting inmates in check

Over the years,we have worked out various equations. We rotated a prisoner for 15 days based on threat perception and kept an inmate in a barrack for months,” said an official.

With limited capacity,rising crime graph and increased deportations in the past five years,the authorities say nothing is continuous in jails,not even gang loyalties.

“Breaking scuffles remains a priority.” An official running the roster in Arthur Road Jail said,“A barrack can house 25 to 100 prisoners. Each barrack is set apart by huge walls from the British days.”

Jail authorities say even if they lodge rival gang members in one barrack,strength of both sides is balanced.

“There have to be equal numbers on both sides. One or two members of rival gangs do not fight,” an official said,adding,“We have the anda cell for mischievous inmates.”

Jail authorities said in case of a fight,most notorious gangsters are transferred to other jails. In 2012,several inmates were transferred from Arthur Road to Taloja after feuds with rivals.

A former inmate said since jails were used for recruitment,gang members switching loyalties was common.

Taloja Jail houses murder convict Arun Gawli,Chhota Rajan gang member D K Rao,deported D-gang member Riyaz Siddiqui,Salem,five accused of the July 2006 Mumbai serial blasts and more than 20 members of Indian Mujahideen. Arthur Road jail is home to gangster Mustafa Dossa and several 7/11 accused.