Anti-drug drive Toofan fills Kerala jails beyond capacity

Kerala's Operation Toofan, the UDF government's anti-drug campaign launched on June 2, has led to nearly 10,000 arrests. But the crackdown is straining overcrowded prisons, with 1,005 people remanded to judicial custody between June 2 and July 23.

Official data shows the state's jails hold 9,979 inmates against a capacity of 7,416. Poojappura central prison in Thiruvananthapuram houses 1,580 inmates in space meant for 727. Kannur and Thavanur central prisons also exceed capacity. A prisons official told New Indian Express authorities were controlling the situation but faced issues, especially in Thiruvananthapuram zone.

A retired prisons department officer said construction of new prisons was the only lasting solution, with temporary transfers insufficient to handle the rising inmate numbers.