Bengaluru, Mar. 14: DGP Alok Kumar has instructed the officials to conduct drug testing for prisoners with the aim of making prisons drug-free.
In the wake of incidents of drugs being smuggled into the prison by prison staff, it has been decided to conduct drug tests for prisoners in collaboration with Nimansa Hospital.
As per the instructions of Alok Kumar, who has taken significant steps to prevent drug use in prisons across the state, prisoners are being subjected to drug tests in all prisons in the state.
Under this scheme, in the first phase, about 10 percent of prisoners in all prisons are being tested for various drugs including ganja, heroin, cocaine using special kits provided by the Prisons Department.
If the prisoners are found to have consumed drugs in this test, they will be given immediate counseling.
Prisoners who are addicted to drugs will be admitted to the hospital and treated, but no criminal case will be registered against them, officials said. The DGP has instructed officials to bring the prisoners back on the right path through overall counseling and treatment.