Punjab to ban mobile phones inside jails

Jail Staff to get walkie-talkie sets

Patiala, April 12
Following complaints of illegal use of mobile phones by prisoners, the Punjab Jails Department has decided to completely ban carrying of mobile phones inside the jails. As an alternative, jail officials will be provided walkie-talkie sets to ensure that even they do not carry their personal mobile phones inside the jails.

Sources said while a move of installing jammers inside the jails was still in the pipeline, officials had been briefed about banning the use of mobile phones inside the jails. "Mobile phones will be banned inside jails even for superintendents and others staff who will be provided walkie-talkie sets," they said.

An official said, "The state government's pilot project to install jammers in all jails is yet to see light of the day due to shortage of funds. However, a sum of Rs 4 crore has been earmarked for modernisation of jail equipment, including modern communication devices for jail staff".

In the recent past, over 1,000 mobile phones had been recovered from jail inmates across the state.

In a recent case, allegations were levelled against former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur for allegedly using her mobile phone inside the Kapurthala Jail in violation of the Jail Manual. However, once jammers are installed and walkie-talkie sets are given to the jail staff, such violations will be checked.

The sources said many criminals lodged in jails were allegedly running their gangs from there itself. The Jail Manual stipulates that there is no proper provision to book them for using mobile phone. "Punjab DGP (Jails) Shashi Kant is keen to get funds to buy jammers to curb illegal activities of inmates," said a senior jail officer.

At present, Punjab has seven Central Jails located at Patiala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Ludhiana, five districts jails located at Nabha, Sangrur, Faridkot, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur, two open-air jails located at Nabha and Kapurthala, one women's jail at Ludhiana and 10 sub-jails at Fazilka, Majha, Mukatsar, Patti, Ropar, Barnala, Malerkotla, Phagwara, Dasuya and Pathankot. Besides, there is a jail training school located at Patiala.

“We will surely implement many more jail reforms, including banning of mobile phones from inside jails soon,” said DGP (Jails) Shashi Kant.

JAMMING NETWORK

• In the recent past, over 1,000 mobile phones had been recovered from jail inmates across the state
• The government's pilot project to install jammers in all jails is yet to see light of the day due to shortage of funds
• A sum of Rs 4 crore has been earmarked for modernisation of jail equipment, including modern communication sets for jail staff.