Yogesh K Porwar
Incidents of smuggling cigarettes and tobacco products into the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison are on the rise,with at least two cases reported in the past few days after the prison deparmtent issued a blanket ban of consupmtion and supply of tobacco products inside the prison.
In the latest incident on Tuesday,security personnel, during a routine inspection,found an undertrial prisoner concealing prohibited items in his undergarments.
The inmate,identified as Santosh,had been taken to National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) earlier in the day for medical treatment and was escorted back to the prison in the evening.
During frisking using a handheld metal detector (HHMD), officials grew suspicious and conducted a detailed search.
They recovered three cigarettes,neatly packed and wrapped in black tape,hidden inside his undergarments.
The seized items have been confiscated, and a case has been registered at the prison under relevant provisions.
Authorities have also initiated an internal inquiry to ascertain any lapses on the part of security personnel who may have failed to detect how the accused sourced,concealed,and smuggled the banned items into the facility.
In a separate recent incident,alert prison staff had recovered a ball-shaped packet containing tobacco and ganja,wrapped and discarded near the prison wall.
Officials say the increasing frequency of such cases has prompted tighter surveillance and stricter checks within the prison premises. Further investigation is underway.
The prison department has banned the use of tobacco among the inmates in a step to reduce the addiction and promote healthy lifestyle .
