Mobile phones, bidis, tobacco packs seized from Gujarat jails

Gandhinagar, Mar 23: Police have seized several prohibited items including mobile phones, bidis and tobacco from central jails in Ahmedabad and Vadodara in the past two years, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said in the assembly.

In reply to a question by a Congress MLA on Tuesday, Patel, who also holds the Home portfolio, said during checks police recovered 29 mobile phones from Ahmedabad jail in 2014, while 20 were seized from Vadodara prison.

In 2015, another 32 mobile phones were recovered from Ahmedabad central prison and six from Vadodara jail. Congress legislator Tejashreeben Patel had sought information regarding recovery of banned goods from central jails in Ahmedabad and Vadodara in the past two years.

Police also recovered numerous bidi and cigarette packets from the jails in the past two years. A smoking pipe was also seized, the government said in the written reply

A considerable number of chewing tobacco and pan masala packets were also seized from jails. The police also recovered tea leaves, sugar and thermoses from the jails. The seizure also included five packets of garlic chutney, potatoes and onions, the reply stated.

Apart from above mentioned things, the other common items found in the jail included nail cutter and scissors. Cash was also recovered from possession of some prisoners.

In reply to a supplementary question on what action has been taken after the discovery of the banned items, the government said that legal action has been taken against 253 prisoners as per jail manual, while departmental action has been taken against 173 employees, including some officers.

PTI