Panaji (Goa)

 

Three days after the Colvale Jail was back in the news for wrong reasons when a group of jail staff and inmates hosted bhang party, the Prisons Department has suspended five officials. 

 

Assistant Jailor Shivprasad Lotlikar, head guard Rajendra Wadkar and jail guards Caitan Godinho, Vijay Desai and Kiran Naik are suspended. Inspector General of Prisons Rajendra Mirajkar issued their suspension order today after an inquiry conducted by Jail Superintendent held them guilty for allowing and taking part in the party. Interestingly, jail guard Naik was found drunk along with two inmates Vinay Gadekar and Suryesh Arolkar. The inmates were referred to North Goa district hospital, Mapusa, and later shifted to Goa Medical College and Hospital along with the jail guard.

 

The bhang was offered by another under trial Anil Bhuye, against whom a police investigation is already ongoing. The incident came to light around 7pm after Arolkar and Gadekar started vomiting on consuming the drink. Jail Superintendent Prabhudessai in a report to IGP said undertrials from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar used to prepare the concoction and distribute it to other undertrials during Mahashivratri celebrations.

 

“The five jail officials are suspended. We have initiated departmental inquiry as well and they will have to report to the head office or Colvale Jail,” IGP said. 

 

The Mapusa police have meanwhile attached a bucket of milk mixture, the alleged source of the spiked drink. Police are also investigating how the drink was brought into the jail premises. The Food & Drugs Administration will now be asked to conduct a test of the seized drink.