In a major crackdown against nexus of gangsters and criminals operating from jails, the Punjab government has so far confiscated 710 mobile phones from jails in a specially launched drive.
Giving details in a statement, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that during this special drive launched from March 16 to May 10, as many as 710 mobiles have been recovered from jail inmates. He said that from 16th to 31st March 166 mobiles have been recovered whereas 354 mobiles were confiscated from April 1st to 30th adding that 190 mobiles have been recovered from May 1-10. Mann said that these mobiles were used by the gangsters and smugglers to run their rackets from the jails
Mann said that investigations are on to nab the persons on whose name these numbers were registered and soon strict action will be taken against them. He said responsibility of the officers and staff of jails who were involved in sneaking these mobiles in the jail will also be fixed.
The Chief Minister said that abolishing VIP culture in jails the Punjab government has decided to abandon the VIP cells and transform them into administrative blocks. He said that those lodged in jails have been punished by courts for violating law and they can’t enjoy facilities while sitting in jail. Mann said that these jails will now be truly reform (Sudhar) houses (Ghar) where these criminals will pay for their sin in right earnest.