Tears and joy mark Raksha Bandhan in Vadodara jail

The usually staid premises of Vadodara Central Jail came alive on Thursday morning as more than 500 women met their brothers lodged in jail to tie rakhis. However, many complained that they were not allowed to offer "more" sweets to their brothers.

By 8 am, scores of women with their family members were waiting for the main gate of the central jail to open. A special tent was erected for registration of those girls and women wanting to meet their brothers.

After going through a three-level security check, they were allowed inside the main building of the jail. They could meet their brothers in the lobby of administrative wing of the jail. Children of up to 10 years of age were allowed to accompany women going inside the jail. The uninterrupted flow continued till around 1:30pm, jail authorities said.

"More than 500 sisters tied rakhis to their respective brothers. Women members of Lions Club, Gayatri Privar, Brahma Kumaris, Jain Social Group and Pooja Foundation tied rakhis to other inmates," Jail Superintendent R F Sangada said.

According to the superintendent, there were 2010 prisoners in the jail, including 450 undertrials. Additional police personnel were deployed on the premises to control the rush. "To ensure an event-free occasion, additional six lady police constables and eight constables and head constables were pressed into the service," Sangada further said.

As they came out after meeting their brothers, faces of many women were beaming. However, a few complained that they should have been allowed to carry more sweets and other eatables.

"My elder brother loves berries and I had brought a packet of them. However, they did not allow me to take them to him," a teary Niru Vasava, a resident of Jespur in Zaghadia taluka of Bharuch district said. Vasava's two brothers are lodged in the central jail.

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