Mangaluru: Drug addiction has increased in Mangaluru District Jail and it is a big challenge for the authorities to control the inmates who are addicted to drugs and stop the supply of drugs. For that, the authorities have decided to start a “Drugs De-Addiction Centre” inside the prison.
The number of drug addicts among the undertrial prisoners is increasing day by day. Those arrested under the NDPS Act in cases of consumption, sale, transportation of drugs, involved in other criminal activities and also addicted to drugs, thus when they come to the jail, their behaviour is extreme. Some are even getting sick.
Prisoners who are addicted to drugs inside the prison are looking for various ways to get drugs anyway. To fulfill their demand, relatives and well-wishers are making efforts to supply drugs inside the jail. In general, checking the supply of drugs inside the prisons is also becoming another big challenge.
At present there is one counsellor in Mangaluru Jail. He is spreading as much awareness as possible among the inmates who are addicted to drugs. In case of need, they are taken to the hospital and given treatment. But it is not affecting much. So a unit on the model of “Drugs De-Addiction Centre” to be set up within the prison. This set up will have medical officers of the district hospital, close consultants and specialist close consultants and experts from Roshni Nilaya.
Officials said that they will constantly educate about the dangers of drugs and provide appropriate treatment if needed.
There are many ways to transport drugs. Attempts were made to give Marijuana and other prohibited drugs to inmates by hiding them in pickle cans, slippers, other parts of the body, in Mangaluru jail. Many were arrested. A prison guard was also involved in the supply of ganja. The Commissioner of Police had gone and inspected with more than 300 policemen. In 2018, a student was arrested for supplying cannabis to an undertrial prisoner. In 2017, four people were arrested for transporting Marijuana to prisoners.
The capacity of the jail is 250. At present there are 371 undertrial prisoners. A total of 107 posts at various levels have been sanctioned for jail duties. Currently 67 are available for service. In this also some have OOD duty. 23 personnel of KSISF are looking after the security. KSISF is inspecting everyone, including officials, and staff, who come to visit the prisoners.
There are currently 371 undertrial prisoners in the Mangaluru District Jail, of which 65 are under the NDPS (Sale/Consumption/Trafficking of Drugs) Act. About 35 of those arrested in other acts are drug addicts. There are a total of around 100 drug addiction inmates. There are about 35 undertrial prisoners detained under the NDPS Act in the Udupi District Jail and they are being given counseling and treatment twice a month with the help of experts from KMAC Hospital, said District Jail Superintendent S. B. Patil.
Prisoners should come out of drug addiction. The aim of the department is to lead a drug-free life even after release from prison. In that regard, de-addiction unit will be implemented soon, said T. B. Oblesappa, Mangaluru Jail Superintendent.