The Director Jails has directed all jail officers in the state to ensure constant, intensive and surprise search operations in the jails. Its objective is to prevent supply of banned goods to prisoners.
According to Additional DG Jails and Reformative Service Sushobhan Bannerji, all Jail Superintendents have been directed for regular as well as random search operations. A visitor should be allowed to enter jail only after thorough search. Every material coming to jails should be searched, specially the materials brought by prisoners' friends and relatives. Prisoners are permitted to obtain on their own expenses some articles including tooth brush, tongue cleaner, tooth powder, soap, Surf and food stuff etc. Relatives provide prisoners prohibited articles in the name of authorized goods. Efforts are being made to further tighten security arrangements so that banned articles do not reach prisoners. Baggage scanners have been installed in all Central Jails for this.
Search campaigns have started to yield results. Mobile phone, batteries, cash and other prohibited goods have been recovered in Rewa Central Jail, Mhow Sub-Jail and Jabalpur Central Jail. Mobile battery was found hidden in slippers provided by relatives to a prisoner in Jabalpur Central Jail. legal action is being taken against concerning persons.
In view of shortage of staff in jails, Collectors, SPs, Divisional Commissioners and IGs have been directed to conduct surprise search operations through their staff with cooperation of police.
After this appeal, intensive search operations were conduced in Gwalior Central Jail and Neemuch District Jail in the presence of concerning District Collectors and SPs. Jail Headquarters has directed all Jail Superintendents to fix responsibility of concerning officers and ensure strict action against them if a case of negligence or indifference towards search operations due to which prohibited goods reach prisoners comes to fore.