Sep 29, 2017
Prison food for Gurmeet Ram Rahim tasted for safety, samples preserved for 48 hours
Ram Rahim's barrack has only three other prisoners, but all of them are lodged in different cells. "This is also part of our strategy," added an official.
With Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh being a prisoner with high threat perception, authorities are taking no chances while serving him food inside Rohtak’s Sunaria jail. The food being given to the convicted dera head is tasted for its safety before being served and the entire process is videographed. Further, samples taken from each food item are preserved for 48 hours.
The dera chief has been in jail for one month after his conviction on August 25 for raping two sadhvis (female followers) at the dera headquarters in Sirsa.
“We have to be very careful about his security because of the threat perception to his life, even inside the jail. Intelligence agencies have already given their inputs in this regard,” an official of Haryana Prisons Department told The Indian Express on Thursday.
The source added, “We have to keep an eye on his food because somebody, as part of a conspiracy, might try to poison his meal. All the food for the prisoners is cooked in the kitchen under the watch of CCTV cameras. Before it being taken to the dera chief, it is tasted by a senior officer of the prisons department. When jail officials take his food to his barrack, a cameraperson escorts them to videograph the journey from the kitchen. Every clipping is preserved for a week.”
The dera chief has been kept in a barrack and guarded by several layers of security guards. The barrack has about a dozen cells in the shape of small rooms.
“His position in the jail is constantly changed so that nobody can pinpoint his location. The dera chief faces threat from external sources also,” said an official.
When contacted, Haryana Director General (Prisons) KP Singh said, “Apart from the regular jail superintendent, an additional jail superintendent has been posted in the jail to look after the security arrangements… Surprise checking is also conducted by the jail officers and judicial officers.”
K P Singh himself inspected the security arrangements inside the jail a few days ago.
Ram Rahim’s barrack has only three other prisoners, but all of them are lodged in different cells. “This is also part of our strategy. All three prisoners were sentenced for life but likely to be released in next few years. We feel that none of them will harm Ram Rahim because any such action would harm their prospects of an early release,” added the official.
A source further said, “The dera chief can roam in his barrack and meet the other prisoners. But he cannot go out of his barrack area, and nobody else can enter his area. An official has been deputed in front of his barrack to ensure compliance of the orders. We have to take such precaution because of apprehensions of violence by prisoners against him. He is taken out of the barrack to the library, or to the courtroom inside the jail meant for his appearance before the Panchkula court through video-conferencing.” The dera chief is still facing trial in two murder cases.
About his behaviour in prison, the official said: “He behaves like a normal prisoner. He was almost enjoying the status of god with his followers before his conviction.”
Seriously! Dead rat found in food at IIT-Delhi mess
New Delhi: On Tuesday morning, students of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi were in for a shock when they sat for breakfast at the mess.
One of the students at the Aravali hostel at IIT-Delhi discovered a dead rat floating in the coconut chutney served to him in a plate.
The Times of India reported that one Jayant Darokar first sighted the dead mouse.
"By the time I found it, many had already eaten the chutney," Darokar wrote on Facebook.
The mess administration was informed which has assured to take corrective steps.
The students are, however, not a satisfied lot. They spoke about the poor hygiene condition at the hostel mess.
IIT director Ramgopal Rao said they have set up a panel of three wardens to look into the matter.
He said action was imminent against some people in the mess.
Food vendors fined for misbranding
PANJIM: The North District Collector has imposed a penalty of Rs 30,000 each on three food vendors for selling misbranded and sub-standard food items.
Collector Nila Mohanan has imposed penalty under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules and Regulations for manufacturing for sale and distribution of banana chips, tapioca sticks and tapioca wafers which were misbranded.
Senior Food Safety Officer Rajiv Korde had detained the consignment at Margao Railway Station on August 30, last year.
The collector has directed the violators to submit an undertaking within 30 days that they will not take up the manufacturing or marketing of such misbranded food articles across the State.
FDA closes down 9 vendors in Raia
Food and Drugs Administration raided 9 food vendors operating food stalls in Raia on Thursday morning without food safety licenses.
They were all dealing in loose biscuits, toast, chewda and other packed eatable items.
The 9 vendors were served issued unlicensed notice and also closed down all the premises till further orders.
FDA team comprising of Amit, Priya and Shradha visited the Raia market in Salcette and took samples of these gaddas selling items toast loose, khari biscuit for quality checking at their laboratory.
FDA Team conducted these inspection along with the Panchayat members after FDA had received complaints from Raia residents.
The Collector Nila Mohanan imposed a penalty of 30,000 rupees each on food vendors Bala Murugan of M/S B Chips, Kunnur Kerla and Siva Gurunathan of M/S. A.B. Chips, Zuarinagar under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act. 2006 and the Rules and Regulations for the manufacturing for sale and distribution of misbranded ‘Banana Chips’, Tapioca sticks and Tapioca Wafers.
Senior Food Safety officer Rajv Korde had detained the consignment at Margao Railway Station on August 30, 2016 and balance stock of 320 kgs was seized.
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