Visakhapatnam’s central prison is bursting at the seams, grappling with a deepening overcrowding crisis largely driven by narcotics-related detentions — especially ganja cases. The prison, designed for 914 inmates (including 80 women), is currently accommodating 1,764 prisoners — nearly twice its capacity.
Of the total, 1,020 inmates are behind bars for offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. This includes 47 male convicts and a staggering 973 undertrial prisoners. Over 55% of undertrials are jailed for cannabis-related cases, said jail superintendent M Mahesh Babu.
Many of these undertrials, nearly 300 in number, are from outside Andhra Pradesh and have been languishing in jail for six months to a year due to bail hurdles. Legal experts point out that commercial quantity seizures (above 20 kg) make bail particularly difficult. Courts, bound by NDPS provisions, are reluctant to release those accused without strong local sureties.
Special public prosecutor YN Srinivas emphasized that the legal system needs reforms. “Most of the accused are non-locals with no sureties, and courts can’t presume innocence in commercial quantity cases,” he said. He urged for amendments in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to ease bail norms and decongest jails. “Remember, bail is the rule, jail is the exception,” he added.
As a temporary relief, around 175 inmates were shifted to Rajahmundry central prison. The government has now approved construction of an additional barrack at Vizag prison to house 200 more inmates.