5 jail officials, 2 inmates booked for drug trafficking

The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the state police has booked five officials of the Hoshiarpur Central Jail and two inmates for drug trafficking.

The action came on a report received from the Inspector General of Police (Prisons), revealing connivance of the officers, including the jail superintendent, with the inmates to help a drug smuggler lodged in the jail in carrying out drug trafficking.

Jail Superintendent Baljit Singh Ghumman had already been placed under suspension two days ago after narcotics were recovered from the jail.

Additional Director General of Police (ANTF) Nilabh Kishore said the FIR was registered following an inquiry.

He said the inquiry indicated that the inmates were involved in drug smuggling, which was facilitated by corrupt actions of jail officials, who were accused of using their positions to allow the flow of illegal narcotics, severely undermining the security and integrity of the correctional facility.

The ADGP said that an FIR has been registered under Sections 21, 22, 29 and 59(2) of the NDPS Act.

A search was carried out simultaneously at 10 different places on Saturday morning, he said, adding that further investigation was on and more arrests were anticipated.