Thiruvananthapuram: In a major security lapse, nearly Rs 5 lakh was stolen from the ‘Food for Freedom’ cafeteria run by inmates near Poojappura Central Jail, regarded as Kerala’s most high-security prison.
The theft was discovered early Monday when miscreants were found to have broken open the cafeteria door, entered the office and looted cash stored in a locker. The money was reportedly meant to be deposited in the treasury the same day.
What makes the incident t alarming is the cafeteria’s location, situated right next to the heavily guarded Central Jail in the heart of the state capital. Police suspect the involvement of someone familiar with the premises and its cash handling system.
Investigators have begun examining CCTV footage from nearby areas, but the cafeteria itself lacked surveillance cameras, a lapse that has sparked criticism. The stolen amount is believed to include three days of collections, covering Friday’s public holiday and the busy weekend that followed.
This is not the first breach of security at Poojappura jail. A few months ago, equipment worth around Rs 5 lakh was stolen from its solar power plant, where nearly 300 unused batteries were dismantled. Despite a case being registered, police have made no arrests in that incident.
The Food for Freedom cafeteria, located directly in front of the jail, was launched in 2011 under then DGP Alexander Jacob. It was an extension of the much-popular “jail chapatis”, once a household name in Kerala, and was seen as a reformist initiative to showcase inmates’ skills.
However, the latest theft has raised fresh concerns about the security of such ventures. The Poojappura facility, which houses over 1,500 inmates against a sanctioned capacity of 700, has long faced problems of overcrowding and staff shortage.