Prisons,insecure

They said there is a clear pecking order among inmates and jail staff often gave preferential treatment to some. “Bribery continues to be a big issue. While petty criminals are treated with disdain,jail staff often allow concessions to gangsters who grease their palms,” said a former prison officer.

Sources said when undertrials are taken to courts for hearings,police escorts turn a blind eye to associates handing them mobile phones.

“At times,when a gangster is transported in a police vehicle to court,aides ride alongside on motorcycles and talk to him through the journey. They even hand him a mobile phone to talk to other gang members,” said a prison source.

“Even on court premises,police escorts allow prisoners to meet and talk to associates. Guards at prison gates are bribed to smuggle in clothes,sweets,fruits and other items,” the source said.

During an inspection at Taloja Jail on October 26,2011,20 pairs of trousers,leather belts and shoes were seized from D K Rao. The gangster was planning to distribute the smuggled items among inmates.

Sources said: “The prison manual says all entering a jail,including staff,should be frisked thoroughly. However,this is hardly followed. A corrupt jailor can easily bribe his way in with a mobile phone or other banned articles,” said a senior prison officer.

Jailors tend to become overly familiar with relatives of inmates. They often become messengers for gangsters. Two grills separate prisoners and visitors,but vigilance during weekly visits of relatives of inmates can be lax. Sources said prisoners are allowed to meet lawyers inside jails any number of times.

Last January,two prison staff were suspended and a criminal case registered after they visited in Kharghar the wife of a 1993 Mumbai serial blasts accused lodged in Taloja Jail and made advances at her. The accused was under scanner for the attack on Salem last month.

“The wife of this gangster used to visit him in Arthur Road Jail. A jailor had become familiar with her. When the gangster was shifted to Taloja Jail,his wife shifted to Kharghar. This jailor,accompanied by another,visited her and made advances. A case of outraging the modesty of a woman was registered,” said a prison officer.

While corruption remains a major hurdle in curbing prison security breaches,non-implementation of basic guidelines,such as regular inspections and surprise checks,compounds the problem. “In the latest attack on Salem,interrogation of the shooter revealed a revolver was smuggled and concealed in Taloja Jail for two months. Proper and regular inspections would have prevented this,” said a prison officer.

In August 2008,eight personnel at Byculla Prison,including then superintendent Ramesh Kamble (presently,Taloja jail SP), were suspended for dereliction of duty after inmates Sachin Shette,Soma Khere and Sayyed Irfan were found in possession of mobile phones,chargers,SIM cards and four knives.

A search after an alert by the crime branch did not reveal anything. The phones and knives were seized only in a second search after another alert in June 2008. “Mobile phone jammers installed at Arthur Road Jail had to be removed after nearby residents said they were facing difficulty in getting network,” said an officer.

Inmates should to be confined to cells from 12.30 to 3.30 pm and from 6.30 to 9.30 pm but sources said this was not enforced strictly. Inmates were often found out of their barracks and in common areas,they said. Prison cells in a barrack open into a long corridor which allows inmates to access two courtyards for recreation. The courtyards are separated by columns for crowd control.

All blocks have a similar arrangement — rows of cells,corridors outside and courtyards beyond that lead to a large central open area. A concrete wall separates blocks. “If there is a threat perception for a prisoner,the cell next to his is kept empty and neighbouring ones in the row are occupied by ‘friendly’ inmates. To attack such a prisoner,one has to take the central common area-courtyard-corridor route,” a former prison officer.

“Sometimes,corridor and courtyard gates are not locked. Inmates are not always escorted from the prison gates to their cells,which is mandatory,” the officer said.

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