Prisons head inspects Hindalga Jail, orders crackdown on contraband

Belagavi: Alok Kumar, director general of police (Prisons), paid a surprise visit to Hindalga Jail in Belagavi on Tuesday and carried out a detailed inspection of the premises.Kumar said the jail houses several high-profile convicts and undertrials, making it a sensitive institution. He pointed out that the prison, being an old structure, faces multiple challenges, including repeated attempts to smuggle contraband such as ganja, mobile phones and SIM cards by throwing them into the premises from outside.
Since the jail is adjacent to the main road, prohibited items are often tossed inside for inmates. Kumar said instructions have been issued to install fencing to prevent such incidents. The police department has been asked to set up barricades around the premises, he added."As the jail is adjacent to the main road, all kinds of materials are being thrown inside for inmates. Instructions were given to curb this completely by installing fencing. The police department has been asked to put barricades," he said.Despite the installation of signal jammers, he noted that mobile networks were still accessible inside the prison. He directed officials to resolve the issue immediately and warned that strict action would be taken against any staff found supporting illegal activities. During the inspection of the entry area, Kumar instructed officials to maintain cleanliness, conduct thorough vehicle checks before allowing entry and strengthen overall vigilance. "If any inmate is found using a mobile phone, it must be seized immediately. From now on, ganja, beedi and cigarettes—nothing should enter this jail. All such activities must be stopped," he said. On complaints from residents of five nearby villages about network disruption due to high-frequency jammers installed in the jail, Kumar said there was no other option but to shift the jail to another location.City police commissioner Bhushan Borase and SP K Ramarajan were present.