Two jail staff, auto driver arrested for smuggling banned items into prison

On the charge of smuggling banned items into the Central Prison in Dharwad, the Dharwad Sub-Urban Police have arrested two prison warders and an autorickshaw driver.

Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar told presspersons in Dharwad on Friday that Assistant Superintendent of Prison Nirmala had lodged a complaint with the Sub-Urban Police Station on March 8 about instances of prohibited items being smuggled into the jail.

After taking up investigation, the police found that banned items were being supplied to inmates through the prison canteen and found the involvement of the prison staff, he said.

The arrested men have been identified as warders Altaf Dawalasab Shekasanadi and Raju Basanagouda Solabannavar and autorickshaw driver Munir Betageri.

The Police Commissioner said that banned items worth ₹75,000, including beedis, cigarettes, gutkha and lighters, along with the autorickshaw, used for transportation have been seized. The accused have been remanded in judicial custody.

The Police Commissioner said that as it is an old prison, there is the possibility of such items being smuggled by evading surveillance. However, steps will be taken to increase the frequency of inspection in the prison. Further investigation is on to find out the covert route used for such supplies and also whether they were sold at high prices inside the prison.

To a query, the Police Commissioner said that as the IPL season is set to begin, steps are being taken to prevent cricket betting.