Kendrapara: Around 49 prisoners who were imprisoned in wildlife offence cases at the Kendrapara sub-jail were shifted to Choudwar circle jail Saturday after the JMFC Court of Rajnagar gave permission.
Due to space limitations at the sub-jail, superintendent Saroj Kumar Biswal had filed petitions in the JMFC Court of Rajnagar, with the Choudwar circle jail and top officials of the Prison Department to shift the prisoners.
The sub-jail is facing an acute space crunch for housing under-trial prisoners as it can house only 152 male prisoners in its eight wards and 38 women prisoners in two wards.
Due to shortage of space some prisoners were housed in the medical ward of the sub-jail. There are 381 prisoners at the sub-jail.
Staff shortage has become a major problem in guarding the prisoners, including history-sheeters, at the sub-jail.
Official sources said the sanctioned strength of warders at the sub-jail is 15. But two posts of warders, one head warder, one assistant jailer and one medical officer post have been lying vacant at the Kendrapara sub-jail.
Nine warders, one head warder and one female head warder and some staff are engaged to guard the prisoners, and prevent them from contacting their crime networks.
But with the limited staff it has become difficult to guard the inmates, including 40 hardcore criminals, said Biswal.
The prisoners include notorious gangster Tito, Babu Sahu, Katta Dipu, Litu Das gangsters and several other history-sheeters. There is every possibility of a law and order problem erupting among warring gangsters inside the jail.
Four days back, Tito gangsters allegedly attacked a prisoner over cleaning Cell No: 7.
IIC Kabuli Barik of Kendrapara Sadar Police Station said the superintendent of Kendrapara sub-jail, Saroj Kumar Biswal, lodged an FIR against Jahangir Khan, Sk. Abdullah and SK Channo, who are members of the Tito gang for allegedly assaulting under trial prisoner (UTP) Nihara Ranjan Swain.
Tito gangsters assaulted Swain to display their clout inside the jail. Swain was provided treatment at the sub-jail.
Kendrapara Sadar Police registered a case against Jahangir Khan, Sk Abdullah and SK Channo, and are conducting an inquiry by seizing CCTV footage.
The jail authorities are planning to write to various courts of the district for shifting warring gangsters from the Kendrapara sub-jail to other jails, said Biswal.
PNN