Special team to probe cases of sneaking mobiles inside Amritsar jail

PK Jaiswar

Amritsar, February 25

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar has constituted a special investigating team to probe into instances of sneaking of mobile phones and other prohibited material inside the high-security Amritsar Central Jail here.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dr Pragya Jain, will supervise the investigation and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr Darpan Ahluwalia would conduct it.

As many as 141 mobiles phones among other prohibited materials have been confiscated by Central Jail authorities in the past two months.

Only yesterday, 33 mobile phones, including 12 touch phones and 22 keypad phones with 19 SIM cards, were seized. This was the fourth major seizure made by Central Jail authorities. Earlier, 45 mobile phones were seized on February 17 and 18 cell phones on January 28. On January 12, jail staff had seized 45 mobiles.

A total of 140 jail inmates were booked by the police for violation of jail norms following the recovery of mobile phones from them in the four major recoveries.

“We will delve into how jail inmates managed to sneak the prohibited material inside the high-security complex. Suspect inmates would be brought on production warrant for interrogation. The seized mobiles would be forensically examined to unearth the entire nexus,” said the Police Commissioner while adding that if any jail official was found involved, appropriate action would be taken.

“I have given written orders to investigate this menace and the DCP would file a report after the probe,” he said.

Though the government has taken several steps, including deputing a company of paramilitary force and setting up the harmonious tele call blocking system in the complex, constant cases of seizure of mobile phones raises a question mark over the efficacy of the present system.

33 cellphones seized on Saturday

Only yesterday, 33 mobile phones, including 12 touch screens and 22 keypad phones with 19 SIM cards, were seized. This was the fourth major seizure made by Central Jail authorities. Earlier, 45 mobile phones were seized on February 17 and 18 cell phones on January 28. On January 12, jail staff had seized 45 mobiles.