Mesh Net Proves Effective in Curbing Smuggling at Davanagere District Jail
Authorities in Davanagere report a significant drop in smuggling activities at the local district jail. A wire mesh net installed over the facility has made it much harder for prohibited items to reach inmates.
How the Mesh Net Works
Superintendent Anand Bhajantri explained the system's effectiveness. "Items thrown from outside now land on the mesh instead of reaching prisoners," he said. "Our staff retrieves them immediately."
The jail installed the 25,000 square foot mesh net one year ago. It covers three sides of the compound:
- North side facing Vasanth Talkies Road
- South side near railway tracks
- East side adjacent to residential areas
Basavanagar police station occupies the western side, completing the security perimeter.
Visible Results in Contraband Reduction
Before the mesh installation, beedis and cigarettes regularly reached inmates despite staff monitoring. The prison's location in a populated area made smuggling attempts frequent.
Bhajantri noted a clear pattern: "Once people realized items wouldn't reach inmates, throwing attempts decreased dramatically."
Police even arrested one person attempting to throw contraband over the wall. The mesh has particularly reduced tobacco and drug inflow.
Multiple Security Layers in Place
The district jail employs several security measures beyond the mesh net:
- 16 CCTV cameras monitor 10 barracks
- A scanner machine checks all incoming items including food and medicine
- Regular surprise inspections by police officials
Recent inspections showed positive results. SP Uma Prashanth conducted six surprise visits. Assistant superintendent Sam Varghese and city DSP Sharanabasaveshwar each made two visits. Rural DSP Basavaraj visited once.
No weapons or drugs were found during these inspections, indicating the security measures' effectiveness.
Jail Capacity and Future Plans
The century-old facility currently houses 150 inmates against a capacity of 170. Its age and urban location presented unique security challenges.
Bhajantri revealed that other state prisons will adopt similar mesh nets. "The construction is being extended to other facilities," he confirmed.
The four-month-old scanner machine represents another technological advancement. It examines every item entering the jail, from vegetables to medicines.
Together, these measures create multiple barriers against smuggling attempts at Davanagere's historic district jail.
