Gujarat police conduct raids at 17 jails in State to check illegal activities; 1,700 cops involved in operation

The raids are being conducted in central jails in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and other cities as well in sub-jail

Gujarat police are conducting raids across 17 jails in the State to check if any illegal activities are taking place there and also to ensure that the inmates are getting facilities they are entitled to as per the law, a top official said.

As many as 1,700 police personnel, including officers, are involved in the operation that began Friday night, State Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay said.

The raids are being conducted in central jails in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and other cities as well in sub-jails, he told reporters on Friday night when the operation was underway.

"The purpose behind the raids is to find out if any illegal activities are taking place in the jails and to prevent them. Sniffer dogs have also been roped in this intense search operation," Mr. Sahay said.

Another purpose of the operation is to find out whether the jail inmates are being provided facilities as per the rules properly, he said.

The police personnel involved in the operation wore body-worn cameras and the entire process was live telecast in the state police control centre in Gandhinagar where Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, DGP Sahay and other senior officers were present.

"During the operation, the police talked to the inmates and jail officials," Mr. Sahay said.