Punjab Jail Dept to introduce X-ray scanners, jammers

The Punjab Jails Department will procure modern security equipment, including AI-based CCTV systems, X-ray baggage scanners and body-worn cameras for jails at a cost of Rs 126 crore. High-energy jammers are also being installed in 13 sensitive jails across Punjab to curb the use of mobile phones.

Stating this in its Year-End Achievement Report, Jails Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said the Jails Department was trying to expand humane initiatives within the department, strengthening security through technology-driven solutions and scaling up vocational training to equip inmates with employable skills. 

Sharing key achievements of 2025, the Jails Minister informed that Punjab Prison Olympics were organised to encourage inmates towards sportsmanship and physical fitness. He said plantation drives across jails had converted several premises into green zones, further reinforcing the clean and green vision.

Bhullar said to strengthen jails infrastructure, a new high-security jail was being constructed at Gorsian Kadarbaksh in Ludhiana at a cost of Rs 100 crore. Similarly, construction work of the Jail Bhawan headquarters is underway at Mohali.

Detailing recruitment initiatives, he said 815 warders and 32 matrons had already been recruited, while the recruitment of 175 warders and 4 matrons was nearing completion. Besides this, the recruitment process for 13 Deputy Superintendents Grade-II, 29 Assistant Superintendents, 451 warders and 20 matrons was also in progress and would be completed shortly. In addition, 509 PESCO personnel had been recruited and 359 more PESCO staff would be inducted soon.

He further informed that one additional company of CRPF had been deployed at the Central Jail, Bathinda.  The Jails Minister further said nine petrol pumps were being operated by inmates at Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Nabha, Rupnagar, Fazilka, New Nabha Jail and Sangrur. He said three more petrol pumps would be made operational in the coming period. He said skill development programmes such as welder, electrician, computer operator, beauty services and tailoring had been launched in Punjab jails by opening ITIs in 11 jails, with a target to provide certified courses to nearly 1016 inmates.