THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The UDF government’s flagship anti-narcotics drive, Operation Toofan, is gaining massive momentum across Kerala. Having recorded nearly 10,000 arrests since its launch on June 2, the campaign has successfully disrupted drug supply networks and garnered widespread public appreciation.
However, this aggressive crackdown has created a fresh set of challenges for the state’s prison system, which was already struggling with limited space and staff shortages.
According to government data, 1,005 individuals were remanded in judicial custody and sent to various jails between June 2 and July 23 in connection with cases registered under Operation Toofan. Official statistics show that Kerala’s prisons currently house 9,979 inmates in facilities designed for just 7,416. Authorities are now finding it increasingly difficult to accommodate the continuous influx of those implicated in drug-related cases.
A prisons official admitted that managing the situation is getting tougher. “Except for a few, prisons in the state are perpetually overcrowded. With hundreds being brought in every month, jail management is challenging. We have not lost control, but we are definitely facing some serious issues,” the official told TNIE.
The crisis is particularly severe in the Thiruvananthapuram zone. The Poojappura Central Prison, which has a sanctioned capacity of 727, is currently housing 1,580 inmates. Similar overcrowding is seen in other central prisons; Kannur holds 1,020 inmates against a capacity of 948, and Thavanur has 747 prisoners in a space meant for 568. However, the situation in Thiruvananthapuram remains the most critical.
A retired officer from the Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services Department stated that building new prisons is the only viable long-term solution. While transferring prisoners to jails with available space could serve as a temporary fix, he emphasized that permanent prison facilities must be established to handle the growing inmate population effectively.
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