A seizure of cash and contraband — including alcohol — with a combined value of ₹1,40,700 at the Galapadar district jail has led to additional charges being framed against nine inmates. Six cops have also been suspended and transferred. 

In addition to booking them under the Prohibition Act, the East Kutch police have charged the nine accused with the possession of cash and contraband inside the jail.

The raid and subsequent seizure has also resulted in action against five police officials at the jail. In-charge Jail Superintendent (Group-2) LV Parmar has been suspended and transferred to the Vadodara jail, while Subedar RS Devda, Havaldar Pinkesh Patel, Sipai Ravindra Muliya and Shailesh Khetariya have been suspended with transfer orders to Rajkot jail. 

Manoj alias Pakado Matang, Rohit Garva, Shivbhadrasinh Jadeja, Govind Maheshwari, Rohitsang alias Sonu Thakur, and Yuvrajsinh Jadeja were among those found drunk and in possession of 100 ml plastic bottles containing liquor.

East Kutch police recovered an iPhone from Jadeja, an aide to Nita Chaudhary, the CID constable who was recently arrested on charges of attempted murder and under the Prohibition Act. Another iPhone was seized from Razak alias Sopari Daud Chavda. Phones were also recovered from Surjit Devisingh and Hitendrasinh Zala. In addition, police officials also found ₹50,000 in cash and phone chargers. 

Nefarious nine

The nine inmates from whom cops seized cash and contraband in this recent raid include those in jail for major crimes including murder and attempted murder.

• Yuvrajsinh Rajendrasinh Jadeja: Accused of 22 offences including murder, attempt to murder and smuggling alcohol; attempted to ram his vehicle into police personnel during a chase 
• Razak alias Sopari Daud Chavda: Involved in two murders, murder attempts, and serious assault
• Manoj alias Pakado: Accused 24 crimes, including attempted murder 
• Surjit Pardeshi: Shooter accused in a murder case
• Rohit Garva: Accused attempted murder
• Rohitsang Thakur: Accused of murder in Dhrol
• Govind Maheshwari: Accused of abetting a suicide in Gandhidham
• Matang Jena: Involved in 24 liquor-related offences in Gandhidham and Dudhai
• Hitendrasinh alias Hitu Karansinh Zala: Accused of murder, attempt to murder, assault, and Arms Act violations in Morbi 

Systemic issue?

Kutch Superintendent of Police Sagar Bagmar also noted that the high-security barracks lacks surveillance cameras, leading to suspicions that some prisoners received preferential treatment. 

The Galapadar jail has been under scrutiny for some time, following reports of rampant corruption and exploitation. Inmates’ families are allegedly charged ₹500 to meet their incarcerated loved ones; and prisoners can obtain contraband such as tobacco or cigarettes for ₹100–₹200. Cannabis, mobiles, and liquor are among contraband items regularly seized during raids. So, the most recent raid and its haul only adds to concerns over the state of affairs in this jail.