Sambalpur/ Bargarh: Sambalpur police conducted a surprise raid Sambalpur Mandal Jail late Thursday night and seized a huge amount of tobacco products and drugs.
The raid was conducted in the presence of the Magistrate Swatchandan Behera, Additional SP of Sambalpur Haresh Chandra Pandey and Sadar SDPO. Several packets of gutkha, khaini, bhang (a cannabis product), alcohol and cigarettes were seized from the cells. It was found during the raid that tennis balls packed with tobacco and drugs are being thrown into prisons from outside.
Additional SP later told the media, “We entered the jail at around 3:15 am and checked all the 22 wards along with the bathrooms and latrines. We have seized tobacco products, bidi, lighters, and other narcotics products. We have also seized ‘bhang’ from the inmates. We will submit a report in this connection after which necessary steps will be taken.”
Currently, 576 prisoners are lodged in 22 wards in Sambalpur Mandal Jail.
In another incident, police raided the Bargarh Jail around 5.00 am on Friday and seized medicines, food items and alcohol. This exercise was undertaken in the presence of 14 officers and two platoon police. Questions have been raised as to how such a large amount of tobacco and alcohol is entering the jails.
