Corrupt jail officials to be dismissed immediately: ADGP

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 13

If drugs or other banned materials are supplied to the jail inmates in connivance of any member of the jail staff, he/she will be dismissed with immediate effect. This was stated by ADGP Prisons, IPS Sahota.

Sahota was here to visit the Ludhiana Central Jail today.

“I will not tolerate any involvement of the jail staff with the inmates. If the connivance is proved, no official will be spared, dismissal will be immediate,” said Sahota.

When Sahota was asked about the recent attack on Medical Officer Swaranjit Singh allegedly by jail inmates for not giving them overdose of medicines, he said the DIG Prisons was told to conduct an inquiry and action would be taken accordingly.

The ADGP said the Jail Department was planning to introduce new technology in the jail to curb the use of mobile phones by inmates. When asked about the recovery of a large number of mobiles phones from jail, ADGP said, “It showed lenient approach of the jail staff in dealing with the menace and the staff should keep a strict tab over it.”

19 officers dismissed 

The ADGP said in the recent past, cases were registered against 33 jail officials for helping jail inmates in procuring banned items inside the jail, while 19 officials were dismissed for following corrupt practices inside the jail. 

Inmates share issues

The ADGP interacted with the jail inmates and asked them to share their problems. About 80 inmates gave their problems in writing. Some inmates told the ADGP that their kin were lodged in the women's jail and they should be allowed to meet them more frequently. On this, the ADGP said the Jail Department would soon arrange videoconferencing to allow the jail inmates to interact with their kin lodged in other jails. The ADGP also visited the women's jail where six women inmates gave their issues in writing to the ADGP. Several jail inmates wanted a transfer from the Ludhiana jail to the jail of their native district so that they could see their family or kin could come and meet them more often.