Jail staff ask cops to probe 'charas' recovery

CHANDIGARH: Following the recovery of a small quantity of ''charas'' from one of the inmates on December 31, 2003, the authorities at Model Jail, Burail have requested the police to investigate the matter.
Confirming this, a jail official said they were anxious as it was a pointer to connivance of inmates as well as negligence of lower rung jail staff.
"We sent a missive to police station Sector 34 to conduct an inquiry to know of the suspects. Investigations are on," he said.
A jail official told The Times of India that on December 31, 2003 they recovered around 5-10 grams of Sulfa''-like substance from one Bachchittar Singh, an inmate serving life term.
According to sources, Sunny Kapoor who is serving life sentence, intimated the jail authorities that ''charas'' was on sale in the jail. Taking Sunny into confidence the authorities laid a trap and handed over a coupon worth Rs 500 to Sunny, which contained their signatures on the rear side.
As per the system in jail, the inmates are given coupons instead of cash to buy daily use items from the jail canteen.
Sunny then went and purchased some ''charas'' from one Sanjeev, another prisoner serving life term. Sources said that on a tipoff, they recovered the narcotic substance ''which looks like Sulfa'' along with the signed coupon from Sanjeev''s possession.
Sources have informed that as a mark of caution both Sanjeev and Sunny have been lodged in 20 Cell Ward, away from other inmates, till the completion of inquiry. Though police sources maintain that inquiry is still pending, sources in the jail said that names of four of the jail staff have come up during the investigations.
"We have issued notices to them to record their statements with the police," said a jail official.
Sources in the jail said that it was a serious matter given the tight security structure at the jail. As per information, the outer gate of the jail is manned by CRPF personnel, UT policemen and jail staff, who frisk every visitor thoroughly.
At the main entrance of the jail, UT policemen and jail staff thoroughly frisk the visitors as well X-ray eatables they bring for the inmates.
Sources attribute this to the greed of the jail staff. "They develop a rapport with the inmates at the jail factory or when the inmates are taken to the district courts or the hospital," added an official.