Live-wire fencing has fortified 6 jails, Punjab tells high court
Chandigarh, March 6
Live-wire fencing has been completed in six jails, while the process is underway in 10 others, Punjab today told the Punjab and Haryana High Court during the hearing of a suo motu case on enhancing jail security measures.
The proceedings were initiated following the in-custody interview of “known criminal” Lawrence Bishnoi. As the “court on its own motion” came up for resumed hearing before the high court Bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Kirti Singh, the state counsel submitted that other measures had already been taken to augment the jail security. Besides this, tenders regarding “landline system” had also been floated.
Appearing before the Bench through video-conferencing, SIT chairman-cum-DGP, Punjab State Human Rights Commission, Prabodh Kumar submitted that they would require three months to complete the investigation regarding Bishnoi’s interview “as various aspects, including examination of witnesses and analysis of technical devices has to be undertaken”.
The high court had, in December last year, directed the registration of two FIRs to be probed by the SIT headed by IPS officer Prabodh Kumar. The team was directed to conclude the investigation expeditiously and file a status report within two months.
The Bench had previously asserted that the two-member high-powered committee initially constituted to look into the interview “glorifying crime and criminals” had taken more than eight months to arrive at an inconclusive finding. The Bench added the interviewee was involved in 71 cases in Punjab and convicted in four matters, including offences under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 302 of the IPC and extortions.
He was justifying target killings and his criminal activities, while reiterating and justifying threat to a film actor. The trials were underway in a large number of cases and attempt to project his persona as larger than life could influence the witnesses.
