Umranangal allowed guards in Patiala jail

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 27

The Jails Department, in alleged violation of the Punjab Jail Manual, has allowed two personal security guards of IG Paramraj Singh Umranangal inside Patiala Central Jail where the officer is lodged following his judicial remand in the case of police firing at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan on October 14, 2015.

Jaspal Singh, Jail Superintendent, confirmed that the IG had been provided additional security due to “possible threat perception to his life”. He said, “We had sought additional security from the police and they provided us three gunmen who were already attached with the IG. They have now been attached with the jail security. No VIP treatment is being extended to the officer.”

Umranangal, who has remained as SSP, Patiala, and then IG Patiala, was shifted to Patiala jail after his police remand ended on Tuesday. Sources said, “It is a high security prison and no additional security is allowed to any high profile inmate. But the department has selectively allowed two personal security gunmen of the IG inside the jail barracks.”

As per the jail manual, no inmate is allowed his personal security inside the jail and only the jail guards and officials are allowed near the barracks.

The jail authorities maintain that the IG was given additional security as the jail had more than three dozen gangsters and the “tempers are already high for his alleged role in firing at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan”.

Former Moga SSP Charanjit Singh Sharma, who has also been arrested in the case of killing of two Sikh protesters, is also lodged in the same jail.

Patiala Deputy Commissioner Kumar Amit has said “he has been informed by the department officials that personal gunmen were allowed for Umranangal due to the threat perception to him inside the jail”. “This was done following a request by the jail officials,” he said. When contacted, Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said he would look into the matter.

Threat perception high: Official

Jail Superintendent Jaspal Singh said the threat perception to IG Paramraj Singh Umranangal (pic) was high. “When asked for more security, the police provided us three gunmen who were already attached with the IG. No VIP treatment is being extended to him,” he claimed.violation of law

As per the Punjab Jails 

Manual, no inmate is allowed his personal security inside the jail and only the jail guards and officials are allowed near the barracks

Will look into matter: Minister

Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said he would look into the matter and check for any rule violation.