Bangalore, January 06: Powerful inmates at the Parappana Agrahara central jail in Bangalore enjoy ‘cell delivery’ of all essential items — food, mobile phones, even a drink or two. No one, least of all the authorities, objects.
But as a female warder found out to her cost on Tuesday, when it comes to drug delivery, the stakes are higher. Jyothamma, a female warden was caught red handed while supplying 850 gm (69 packets) of ganja to an inmate on Tuesday.
However, what gives this law and justice problem a twist of the hilarious is that the hands behind the arrest of the drug supplying warden is not the police or the prison staff, but a rival drug gang miffed at their territory being poached.
According to sources in the prison, the ganja supply racket is carved out among different groups of inmates and prison staff. An extended weekend due to government holidays meant that these gangs were inactive for the past few days.
But prison inmates who are part of these gangs were surprised to find ganja on some of their fellow inmates on Monday.
Keen to protect their part of the ganja pie, they kept an eye out for a rival supplier.
On Tuesday morning, Jyothamma who managed to smuggle the ganja inside the prison at 7 am, was spotted with a male inmate working in the kitchen, instead of going to the women’s barracks.
This increased the suspicion of the drug peddlers who tipped of higher officials, who then trapped Jyothamma.
According to sources, this was the fourth time Jyothamma has supplied ganja to an under trial.
They pointed out that if Jyothamma was not caught by the strict checking at gate A and the second round of checking at gate B, she must have had other staff supporting her.
Jail Superintendent Vishwanthaiah said, “Jyothamma doesn’t reside in the official quarters. We have raided her house but no drug was found there. She was held red handed and we are trying to trace the supply and those helping her.” Parappana Agrahara Police Inspector Vasudev V K said that Rizwan, a convict, was spotted with the ganja supplied by Jyothamma.
However the source of supply is yet to be ascertained.
The accused Jyothamma has 15 years of experience in prison service and had been working in Parappana Agrahara jail since 2005.
–Agencies–