With 75 undertrials moved to the new Taloja Prison, the notorious jail sees a dip in activities like extortion, underworld plots and drug use
With 75 undertrials moved to the new Taloja Prison, the notorious jail sees a dip in activities like extortion, underworld plots and drug use
A few years ago, Arthur Road jail was considered to be one of the most feared prisons with notorious undertrials almost running a second home inside u2014 from hatching a murder to extorting money, procuring drugs and mobile phones. All this and more heinous activities were rampantly carried out in this jail.
According to prison sources, amongst those who have been shifted include approximately 25 inmates belonging to Rajan's most trusted lieutenants D K Rao and Vickey Malhotra, 31 henchmen working for Dawood and Chotta Shakeel including Salim Kutta and Kotta Shakeel, and above all, the 7/11 bomb blast accused who were known for making false accusations against the prison staff and police. Interestingly, even gangster turned politician Arun Gawli and his associates arrested recently by the Crime Branch have been shifted to Taloja Prison.
Within the four walls
The brutal killing of Rajan aide O P Singh in the high security Nashik jail in 2002 was hatched and executed by D K Rao from Arthur Road jail. Subsequently, in 2005, the criminal intelligence unit of the Crime Branch found gangster D K Rao in conversation with his gang members during his confinement in Arthur Road Jail.
From recruitment drives for gangs to planning murders and extortion, everything is micro-managed by convicts and undertrials from within the confines of high security prisons.
Undertrials were dancing near circle number 6 to the tunes of a deejay, called in specially so they could celebrate New Year's Eve in 2005. On that night, food and drinks were also arranged.
Charas and ganja were being sold for a mere Rs 100 inside the cell, thanks to the Nigerians lodged there. The fact was brought to light when a prison vigilance team conducted a surprise check inside Arthur Road jail and seized the drugs from a Nigerian.
About the shifting to Taloja Prison, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria says, "It is a two fold measure firstly to tackle overcrowding of the prison and secondly, to prevent gangsters from spreading their tentacles and establish their hold inside the jails."
Separate undertrials
Maria suggests that separate jails be made to keep first time offenders from contact with hardcore criminals who could influence them. Separating the two even prevents fresh recruitment. "We will continue to keep a strict vigil in and around the prison. The new associates formed inside the jail have a direct bearing on the events happening outside," says Maria.
Noted criminal lawyer Majeed Memon expresses a similar view. He says, "It is a two-way traffic. The misdemeanor on the part of the undertrial prisoners and hardcore criminals on one hand, and the corrupt officials from amongst prison staff have been responsible for such activities. On several occasions, instruments like weapons, mobile phones and even drugs are discovered inside the prison, which can only reach either on account of negligence or in connivance with the corrupt staff. Now since the courts have taken serious cognizance of such happenings and the government has tightened their grip on such mismanagement of prison staff, such acts have come down extensively."
Though there may be restrictions within the prison at present because of the intensified security measures for the ongoing Ajmal Qasab trial, earlier, information was easily exchanged when relatives and lawyers visited the inmates twice every week. There are also the visits to the court for hearings and occasional trips to the hospital if an inmate is unwell, pointed out a crime branch officer.
Senior officers say that it is common for prisoners to feign sickness to get out of the jail premises. Once that happens, it is difficult to monitor every move of a prisoner. Jail vans are trailed by bikers who surreptitiously have conversations with their bosses through windows. Even mobiles are exchanged for quick conversations with other aides.
Swati Sathe transferred
The no-nonsense Arthur Road jail superintendent Swati Sathe has been transferred out of the high security jail on Saturday. Senior Mantralaya officials confirmed the transfer of Sathe to Nashik Central Jail and hinted that her place will be taken over by R T Dhamne, presently the superintendent at Yerwada jail.
Sathe says, "I've learnt about my transfer, but am yet to receive the order. I've completed three years tenure and have to move on." Sathe is serving at Arthur Road jail for the second time (May 29, 2006 till date) and earlier from February 13, 2003 to March 19, 2005. She was specially called in to clear the mess at Arthur Road jail. However senior police officials have hinted that they would request Sathe to continue until the Qasab trial is over.
Meanwhile, a minor reshuffle was witnessed in the police force with Additional Commissioner (South) Dr K Venkatesham being replaced by Nashik Commissioner of Police Himanshu Roy.u00a0 Venkatesham takes charge as the DIG (administration) for state police. Interestingly, Additional Commissioner (West) Region Archana Tyagi has been sent on deputation to the central government and Amitabh Gupta has taken over the new charge.
Meanwhile, 200-odd police officers of the rank of inspectors have been transferred. Most of them have completed their tenure. However, Rakesh Maria clarified that out of 20 officers from the Crime Branch who were slated for transfer on the completion of five years, 11 have been retained for their good performance.
Fact sheet
Built in the year 1927 by Britishers to lodge freedom fighters, today Arthur Road jail accommodates under trials booked for petty and heinous crimes, including gangsters and terrorists. The prison was upgraded in 1994 and became a Central Prison. It was known as Bombay Central Prison. However, the heavily guarded prison has always been known as Arthur Road jail.
The jail was built to accommodate 1,074 prisoners, but the average number of inmates is generally over 2,000 inmates far exceeding its capacity in terms of space, sanitation and other facilities.
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