Through the Cracks of Prison

The author, who spent 10 years in jail, details the painful experiences of the inmates and the cold attitude of the authorities

- Sudhir Dhawale

NARYA was a prisoner in Taloja Central Jail, Navi Mumbai. He was young and had already spent a few years in jail. With overgrown hair, a thick moustache and a full-grown beard, he was an eccentric who would roam the prison yard with complete disregard. Since he routinely got into quarrels with the jailer and physical fights with other inmates, people were wary of him. Otherwise, he would get along well with other inmates. Once, he hit a jail superintendent on his face, after which the jailers mercilessly tortured him by resorting to nalbandi—where the prisoner is made to lie flat on the floor with his feet hooked to the iron bars of the prison, his soles are then relentlessly beaten with a baton.

He was declared “mental” (mentally unwell), and pumped with “mental injections”. He was thrown into solitary confinement. Because of his fortitude, jail officials did not antagonise him much. The careless pumping of medications into his body and the solitary confinement took its toll on his state of mind, deteriorating it further. He was afflicted with tuberculosis and was admitted to the prison hospital. He had been accused of rape, but was not convicted due to stagnant court proceedings. Communication with his family was sporadic. He was practically living off ganja and developed severe mental health issues. He was returned to the circle—one of the five enclosed buildings housing 500-550 prisoners each in Taloja Jail. Narya ended his days in this pitiable state as a mental health patient in the prison hospital in 2024.

Ramesh Salunkhe, Circle No: 3; Barrack No: 8