Goa: Prisoners burn effigy of Ravana in jail, four officers suspended after video goes viral on social media

Four officials of Goa's Colvale Central Jail have been suspended for dereliction of duty. Actually, a video has surfaced on social media, in which jail inmates are seen burning the effigy of Ravana.

Jail Inspector General Omvir Singh on Friday issued an order to suspend Assistant Superintendent Chandrakant Harijan, Jailors Mahesh Fadte and Anil Gaonkar and Assistant Jailor Ramnath Gaude. Sources said the action was initiated after a video of inmates burning Ravana using firecrackers on the eve of Dussehra surfaced on social media.

It is noteworthy that burning the effigy of Ravana during Dussehra festival is a common practice throughout India. This year Dussehra, celebrated as Vijayadashami, is being celebrated on 24 October.

An official said that the suspension order states that the jail authorities will have to answer as to how the prisoners were allowed to burn the effigy without taking prior permission. It will also be investigated how permission was given to carry mobile phones in the jail premises. It also said that the suspension order states that this incident highlights the issue of jail security.

“The jail officials have been held primarily responsible for this entire incident and hence they have been suspended pending investigation,” the official said.