Warder caught smuggling tobacco into Central Jail

The police have nabbed a policeman posted as a warder at the Central Jail here for allegedly carrying tobacco inside the prisons.

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The contraband, 60 gm of suspected chewing tobacco, was seized from the suspect, identified as warden Gurpreet Singh of Singhewala Wairo Ke village in Fazilka district.

Dinesh Kumar Sharma said the suspect had been booked and arrested on the complaint of Assistant Superintendent, Central Jail, Surjit Singh, who said Gurpreet Singh was caught while bringing the prohibited item by affixing the same to his foot and concealing it under his socks on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Though prima facie, it seems to be tobacco, the exact nature of the contraband will be confirmed after receipt of a report from the state laboratory,” said Sharma, adding that the suspect had been released on bail.

The police were yet to ascertain the exact identity of inmates for whom the suspect had tried to arrange the objectionable item.

“Though we are yet to ascertain the identity or identities of inmates for whom the warder brought the tobacco, preliminary investigation suggest that monetary gain was the reason behind the malpractice,” he said.

He said further action against the suspect would be taken according to provisions of Sections 42, 45 and 52 A of Prisons Act, 1894, which addresses penalties for introducing or removing prohibited articles into or from a prison, as well as for communicating with prisoners.

The police are yet to ascertain identities of accomplices of the suspect, if any. Besides, his past criminal record, if any, would also be checked.

The warder had joined the Punjab Police about three years ago.