PSI's lost pistol found on Sabarmati Central Jail campus

Ahmedabad: Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad is again in the news, after the alleged February 2013 jailbreak attempt by serial blasts accused. This time, a service pistol lost by police sub inspector (PSI) P K Asoda on July 8 at Chharodi Road near the Gota over-bridge, was found inside the Sabarmati jail campus on Saturday morning.
According to jail officials, while cleaning the campus, a jail official found the pistol some 50 feet away from the small, barricaded jail gate opposite Sabarmati railway station.
"The empty weapon prima facie appears unused and was handed over to Ranip police station. We are conducting an internal inquiry, to see if there is some foul play or not," added a senior jail official.
Meanwhile, city police commissioner Shivanand Jha directed crime branch officials to conduct a thorough inquiry, to see if there was any criminal intention or conspiracy in the pistol being lost, as it turned on the jail campus.
Police officials said they are probing how the pistol, stolen from Chrarodi area of the city, reached Sabarmati Central Jail, which is some 9 km away.
"We questioned sub inspector Asoda, who has been suspended for negligence. He stated that at 5.30 am on July 8, while on a night patrol, he went to relieve himself near a construction site in the Chharodi area and put the pistol on the bonnet of his vehicle," said a crime branch official.
Police sources said Asoda then returned, adjusted his clothes and drove off. "While going to the police control room at Shahibaug, he realized there was no pistol in his holster. He rushed to the spot but could not find the firearm," said a crime brand official.
Senior police officers said that Asoda later gave an application of complaint to Sola police station, for the loss of his service weapon. He was then suspended for losing his service weapon.
Police officials said the fact that the service weapon of the sub inspector was found on the jail campus is a matter of concern. "However, it is too early to say that the weapon may have been placed there to be smuggled into the jail, as the site is outside the core jail area. Only jail wardens, and not prisoners are allowed there," said a jail official.
Police officials said they have asked for CCTV footage from the jail authorities. However, according to jail officials, the area from where the pistol was found is not covered by cameras.
There are high-profile alleged gangsters, such as Vishal Gowami, Mukesh Harjani and others lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail at present.
Ranip police inspector V B Patel said they have registered a complaint and are investigating how how the weapon reached the jail campus.