Cuttack: The Bhubaneswar–Cuttack Police Commissionerate today conducted a surprise raid at Choudwar Circle Jail ahead of the forthcoming state Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
A team of the Police Commissionerate under the leadership of Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty conducted the raid at around 11.30 am which continued till 1 pm. Cuttack DCP Akhilesh Singh, IICs of five police stations and five platoons of police force were in the team.
It was speculated that the police team raided the prison after some videos showing illegal and unauthorised items available with the jail inmates went viral on social media recently. In a viral video, two inmates were seen cleaning the septic tank. Besides, another such video featured an undertrial prisoner speaking over a mobile phone on the premises of the jail. However, the Police Commissioner clarified that the raid was conducted as per the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India after the Model Code of Conduct came into force for the ensuing election across the country.
“We conducted the raid today as a precautionary step following the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. We need to visit the local jails as some under trial prisoners do have nexus with some anti-socials which may affect the election to some extent,” said Mohanty to the newsmen after conducting the raid.
“We conducted the search operation from 11.30 am to 1 pm. We visited every ward and other places on the premises of the jail with the co-operation of the jail staff. However, did not find any illegal and unauthorised items from the jail,” he added.
The Police Commissioner further informed that such surprise raids may continue in future.
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