At Arthur Road jail, football frees inmates from stress
We have seen a change of behaviour among the inmates after the tournament, as they are tired and go to sleep early and are silent. HARSHAD AHIRRAO, SP, Arthur Road jail
MUMBAI : A football tournament for inmates of Arthur Road jail, held for the first time in the premises, came to an end at the prison on Sunday. The winning team had both Indian and foreign inmates in it.
The tournament was organised almost after a decade when cricket was banned at the Arthur Road jail as a member of gangster DK Rao’s gang attacked another inmate with a bat during a tournament there.
Authorities at the Arthur Road jail, whose present strength is around 3,200, formed eight teams comprising six players in each team.
The teams consisted of members from the same barrack. The tournament began last Sunday. In the run up to the tournament, authorities created a festive atmosphere to pep up the inmates and participants.
“The excitement was not only evident among participants, but there was eagerness and support from other barrack members who watched the game and encouraged their respective teams. The winning team was awarded a cup and the best players were given gifts by the jail authorities. Participants also got gifts,” said Harshad Ahirrao, superintendent of police, Arthur Road Jail.
The winning team was barrack number 8, who defeat the team from barrack number 6 in the final. The winning team members were identified as Dozi Amani, Gulherame Mataso, Simji Ilangala, Mohammed Zuber Ali (all foreign inmates), David Alfano and Mohammed Muzzafar Mistry (Indian inmates). The foreigners on the winning team are from the US, UK and Nigeria.
“The tournament was held to encourage the prisoners to come out of the stress they live in and to also give a platform where they enjoy the day and the game. We noticed that foreign nationals and Indian inmates were in the same team and the unity and bonding during the play was just unbelievable,” said Ahirrao.
The tournament also led to an unexpected outcome.
“We have seen a change of behaviour among the inmates after the tournament, as they are tired and go to sleep early and are silent,” said Ahirrao. “We will see to it that such a tournament is organised quarterly or yearly for the prisoners.”
The official said that they held the event on Sunday, as most of the inmates are free from having to make court appearances.
“The excitement for the tournament was seen among other prisoners too. On Sundays we usually make them watch television,” said a police official from the jail.
Commenting about the ban on cricket, a source from the jail said that usually during cricket tournaments, prisoners from different barracks use them to settle scores.
“They also demanded for plastic bats and balls to play a cricket tournament (after the ban), but it was not possible,” the source said.
The jail authorities also organised volleyball and carrom tournaments for inmates during the past week, which attracted a huge number of participants.