- Phones smuggled in chapatis Goa jail food ban—the authorities have implemented strict measures after several instances of smuggling. The discovery of phones hidden in food items like chapatis has led to the banning of all outside food for inmates in Goa’s correctional facilities.
According to jail officials, the decision was made to forbid the smuggling of illegal goods into the facility, particularly cell phones.
According to a notice from the jail administrator, detainees at Goa’s Central Jail will no longer be permitted to eat meals from visitors.
This follows the establishment of a “full-fledged canteen” in the jail, per a recent announcement from the superintendent of the jail. According to officials, this was done to stop phones from being brought into the jail illegally.
Phones Smuggled in Chapatis: Goa Jail Food Ban Enforced to Tackle Contraband Smuggling
In the notice, Shankar B Gaonkar, Superintendent Central Jail, Colvale, said: “Phones smuggled in chapatis Goa jail food ban is being enforced. This is to inform all the inmates of Central Jail Colvale and their visitors that no prisoner shall be allowed to receive food from their visitors…Prisoners can purchase additional food other than regular diet from the canteen. The visitors are permitted to deposit the requisite amount of money into the accounts of inmates which they can utilise to purchase food items from the jail canteen.”
Jail authorities said the decision to implement the “Phones smuggled in chapatis “ has been taken to prohibit smuggling of contraband items, especially mobile phones, into the jail. Officials said there had been several instances where the relatives of inmates concealed prohibited items, including phones, tobacco, and narcotics, in food packets and handed them over to the prisoners during visitation hours.
Officials claim that micro mobile phones, which are recognized for having good reception and are usually smaller than an index finger, are among the most commonly seized devices. “In recent seizures, it was observed that mini-mobile phones of a specific brand are being hidden inside the packaging of food items and chapatis and passed on to the inmates by their families when they come to visit,” a representative who asked to remain anonymous said.
This comes two months after four policemen, including a deputy superintendent, were suspended for their alleged involvement in smuggling narcotics into the jail. A delegation of Goa Human Rights Commission, in its report in October last year, had urged the authorities to set up mobile jammers in the jail premises to prevent the use of mobile phones within the premises by the inmates, as part of efforts to enforce the “Phones smuggled in chapatis Goa jail food ban” and to ensure the effective functioning of CCTVs.
The jail authorities had also installed a ‘smart card phone system’ wherein seven phones were installed for the inmates to contact their family members and lawyers last August. The authorities had claimed that the initiative was meant to curb incidents of mobile phones being smuggled inside the jail, as part of efforts to address the “Phones smuggled in chapatis “ and other contraband smuggling issues.
In conclusion, the phones smuggled in chapatis Goa jail food ban highlights the growing concern over security breaches in correctional facilities. The decision to ban outside food comes after repeated instances of contraband—especially mobile phones—being snuck into the jail through meals. Authorities are now turning to controlled canteen systems and smart phone booths to maintain order and prevent misuse. While this move may inconvenience some families, it underlines the importance of inmate safety, surveillance, and the need to eliminate illegal activities inside prisons. The Goa jail administration remains firm in its stance to tighten security and uphold discipline.
