Indian prison cells are a nightmare. They are dirty and stinky. To spend one hour inside a prison cell in the small cell is an ordeal.
Indian police system ranks high on the corruption scale. There is yet another element to prison life -torture of prisoners during the night by policemen. A frightening thought for many.
And escapes from prison take place helped by corrupt policemen themselves.
Anti-mining activist and researcher Sebastian Rodrigues, from the Indian state of Goa was prepared for the tough demands of prison life, when he along with seven other refused bail, after being arrested for offering protest over mining in the Indian state of Goa.
The group of eight instead preferred to spend twenty hours in the judicial lockup. For the Chief Jailor it was the first time in his life as a Jailor, he was coming across persons who have refused bail and forced their way inside the prison.
The fire-brand researcher did not had to go through agonizing torture at the judicial lockup.
“The jail staffs was kind to us never committing any excesses or beating up that I had heard and read about over the past few years. Overall behaviour of Police at Margao Judicial Lock up was cordial and co-operative towards us,” says Rodrigues.
Instead it was a chance to meet many hardcore criminals serving time in prison for different crimes, in a cell which was sparkling clean for a change. Thanks to the prison inmates.
Few new introductions happened here. Few discussions took off here. And judicial lockup was now transformed into university classroom with lessons of its own.
He encountered people of various shades and characters inside the cell. Some prisoners were very articulate. Most of the prison inmates were behind bars for Murder, some regretted committing deadly crimes and wanted to make a turn new page in life once they serve the term.
But there were quite few inside almost all the prison inmates treated us very well – almost like their family members – guiding us through ways of prison.
“Prison inmates are highly organised lot. Self organisation has taken deep roots in the cell in which three of us were put up in. One inmate ordered Karush to sweep the floor and clean the toilet. In all the humility Karush did this. The cell was so clean that it was fit to host any meeting of civil society gatherings,” says Rodrigues.
The secret behind a clean prison cell are the inmates themselves.
“Duties are well specified as to who will clean and do other duties, on which day, if new entrants do not come. In case new entrants like we 3 come, then, what is going to be our responsibility towards prison upkeep etc. I came to know that every new entrant that comes, will have to do cleaning job everyday for three consecutive days. After this prison seniors take turn to clean every day. It is this way that they are keeping their cell so clean. Its cleanliness truly bowled me over! Joy of this activity lied in the fact that your own fellow prisoner is telling you to do this and not the policemen,” adds Rodrigues.
Rodrigues was on very special assignment on October 11- offering solidarity to the one of the unique protests in the history of Goa, where in 85 year old lady Dora de Souza was to chain herself in front of the mining company in defence of Goa’s mountains and water. She was accompanied by her daughter Cheryl de Souza Sanfransisco and her relative Rita Fernandes. The ladies chained themselves on the road in front of the gate of the mine operator. The group was protesting to what is happening to Goa because of mining. The men who took part in the protest along with Rodrigues were Karush Canteenwala from Pune and Salesian Priest from Sulcorna Fr. Mathias D’Cunha.
The Protest created blockade of the transportation of the mining trucks.
Finally the police led by Quepem Police Inspector Santosh Desai arrested the group but not before they were assaulted by the agitated truck drivers and mine contractors. The truckers were demanding that their daily loss of income from ore transportation due to road blockade be compensated by the protestors.
Around 5.00 pm the group was taken to Quepem police station where they were told that they have been placed under arrest. Here was a mining company that is destroying Goa’s mountains and its water sources are allowed to go scot-free while activists protesting peacefully where being arrested.- a callous highhandedness from the police to support the mining industry.
“After a medical check-up at Curchorem Primary Health Centre 10.45 pm, we were produced before the Judge. We were taken to the residence of JMFC Judge at Quepem. There we were persuaded by Hon’ble judge to take bail. Again we refused. Earlier, our names were recorded at the police station to complete the necessary formalities of our arrest. We were then urged to take bail by some ‘counsellors’. We refused to take bail application as we were not criminals. All of us refused bail, recollects Rodrigues.
Another medical test, a mandatory requirement before the entry into Judicial lock-up was conducted on Rodrigues and his two “accomplices”.
“By the time we were admitted to Judicial Lockup at Margao it was 1.00 am. Sleeping policemen had to get at this unearthly hour to receive three new convicts! Jailor was not around when we reached there. He was phoned and called. After he came over found himself shocked to meet three of us who even though being offered bail by the person of the rank of judge herself, we had rejected and marched our way into Jail.
“He warned us that this ‘foolish’ action on our part will leave bad remark on our carrier. He said as per requirements of the jail rules, we will be required to be photographed like any other criminals and all the records preserved for future. And he further warned us that this ‘foolish’ action of us is going to lose our prestige in society! ”
Rodrigues was getting ready for a new chapter in his life. Instead of University class rooms, here he was getting himself into the goal for a cause.
“Our belongings, such as cash, purse, cell phones, ornaments etc were taken at the registration counter. They were put in the small box and we were told that they will be given back while we leave Judicial Lockup as per law. It was 1.45 am by the time the formalities of our entry into Judicial Lockup got over. Then we were shown way to our place inside Judicial Lockup. One huge policeman opened big lock and let three of us in a space around 50 meters attached with Television and Toilet. As the iron door opened most of the sleeping jail birds got up to see who these new entrants to their species were, says Rodrigues, who was recently termed as a naxalite by former chief minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar, a charge which was later denied by him.
Rodrigues discovered many a new things in the few hours he spent in prison.
“I realized for the first time that humanity exists even inside prison cell and do have love and warmth to share in spite of all the crimes of various kinds we might have committed or accused of being committed,” said Rodrigues.
With prison inmates escaping from the cell, the head count of inmates is one things which policemen are following religiously twice, within a period of 24 hours.
“After three hours there was loud noise outside the cell and all our prison colleagues got up fast. They told us to get up too. We got up not knowing what is going to happen. Then someone told us to sit with them in 3 rows and it were 4 am in the morning and it is time for ‘Ginti’. Soon three policemen including one armed entered our cell and began ‘Ginti’ meaning counting to make sure that none of the convicts has escaped in the middle of the night. Then at 5.am it is time for breakfast. ”
“Privacy is absent in the judicial lock up. Toilet is the only place where It is possible. And the toilet was kept absolutely clean, ” discovered Rodrigues.
Female actresses on Doordarshan TV Channel are the only females that make their presence felt on the prisoners’ psyche inside the prison lock up. Otherwise female contacts are highly restricted – as good as banned – unless some female relatives come to visit prisoners in the lockup.
“In the afternoon we were served lunch – a decent meal I must say – Fish, curry, rice and some vegetable. We had our first full-fledged meal inside the lock up. Throughout the day FM radio as well as television was on with Doordarshan and its news channel as the only two options. Remote lies with the jail staff and prison inmates get it on request. The male cell occasionally comes alive when female actress would make appearance on the screen. ”
This has been the voyage for Rodrigues from Maina village mining protests, to getting beaten up by mining mafia, to getting arrested, to his refusal to take bail to his entry into prison and then back to freedom again.
“I personally feel glad that I have been able to play my tiny role in offering my support to ladies – old and young – all out to defend Goa from mining loot. If our prison entries are going resolve Goa’s looming water crisis then at least I am will to march into the jail again and again without any heed to my prestige and respect. For me water – the source of very life on earth – takes priority over my personal prestige and respect. First time I entered Jail on the October 11 2008 mid-night at Judicial lockup Margao, I remembered and whispered in Karush’s ( Canteenwala from Pune) ears. You know Karush, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 long years that too most part in Solitary confinement for his fight against Apartheid in South Africa. He is one of my inspirations in struggle”.
Of course the course of Rodrigues actions will remain forever changed. And the short prison life will forever alter his approach to life and the causes he holds close to his heart.