Prisoners involved in narcotics cases outnumbered prison's capacity in Vizag
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Visakhapatnam: The central prison in Visakhapatnam is facing a severe overcrowding crisis, with inmates held for narcotics-related offences — primarily ganja — far exceeding its sanctioned capacity.
Designed to house 914 prisoners, including 80 women, the prison currently holds 1,764 inmates, nearly double its intended limit.
Of these, 1,020 inmates are linked to narcotics cases, comprising 47 male convicts and 973 undertrial prisoners. Around 58% of the total prison population is now made up of individuals accused or convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Speaking to TOI, jail superintendent M Mahesh Babu noted that over 55% of undertrial prisoners are in custody due to cannabis-related offences.
He added that nearly 300 inmates from other states have been held for six months to a year, struggling to secure bail due to legal and logistical hurdles.
The NDPS Act categorizes offences based on the quantity of drugs seized: up to 1 kg, between 1–20 kg, and above 20 kg. While bail is relatively easier for the lowest category, those caught with larger quantities — especially over 20 kg — face prolonged detention, often exceeding a year.
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With increasing inflow of the inmates in Vizag central prison, the prisons department transferred around 175 prisoners to Rajahmundry central prison a few months ago as a temporary relief measure.
Explaining the reasons for accused in cannabis cases finding it difficult to get bail, advocate and special public prosecutor for customs, NCB and DRI, YN Srinivas said majority of the accused and inmates in narcotics related offences are linked to detection of commercial quantities of ganja (above 20 kgs ).
Similarly, the accused are from other states and who do not have any connections in Vizag, because of which they cannot secure the local Sureties.
Courts cannot jump to a conclusion that the accused has not committed the offence and hence courts are not granting bail in case of commercial quantity as defined in the NDPS Act. This is one of the major issues which resulted in overcrowded prisons, he added.
The parliament/legislature has to amend bailing provisions in Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), so as to reduce the overcrowded jails by releasing accused giving liberties.
Remember one thing " Bail is the rule and jail is an exception", Srinivas added.
Additional barrack at Vizag central prison
Mahesh Babu said the govt has sanctioned for the construction of one additional barrack at Vizag central prison to tackle the issue of overcrowding. The works for the new barrack will commence in the coming months and the barrack will accommodate over 200 inmates, he added.
Andhra Pradesh has four central prisons located at Vizag city, Rajahmundry, Nellore, and Kadapa. The prison population has been increasing in the state for the past few years. Among all the central prisons, Vizag prison has the largest inmates.
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