Alarmed over the intelligence inputs from the Centre regarding a possible “jailbreak” attempt by terrorists to release “prominent gangsters and militants”, the security has been tightened across jails in Punjab. The security has been beefed up primarily at four jails — Bathinda, Ferozepur, Amritsar, and Ludhiana — which are the “likely targets”.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sent a communiqué to the Punjab Police alerting that the Babbar Khalsa International operative and wanted terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda have planned a “jailbreak plan” to ensure the release of some prominent gangsters and militants.
Following the alert, more force has been pressed into services at jails, particularly the four mentioned in the MHA’s letter.
Punjab Jails Minister Harjot Singh Bains personally visited the jails to review the security arrangements. Taking to Twitter, he shared pictures of his visit to Central Jails in Bathinda, Faridkot, and Ferozepur. “Made Surprise visits to Bathinda, Faridkot, and Ferozepur Central Jails. Checked Security Measures and got frisked High-Security Cells,” he tweeted.
As per the MHA communiqué addressed to the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) based on “reliable inputs”, the MHA has pointed out that Pakistan-based operative Harvinder Singh alias Rinda has conceived a jailbreak plan in Punjab in the coming days.
It added that apart from utilising his “Punjab-based cohorts”, Rinda is also likely to take the help of some jehadi elements in the execution of the plan.
Rinda, a Pak-based wanted terrorist-gangster, is considered close to BKI chief Wadhawa Singh. A 35-year-old Rinda is also a close associate of Lakhvir Singh Landa — the key conspirator of the RPG attack on Punjab Police’s intelligence headquarters, currently hiding in Canada.
The development comes at a time when the law and order situation in Punjab has hit a new low, witnessing back-to-back incidents of violence and security breach, allegedly planned and executed by the gangsters operating from abroad with the help of local criminals.
In fact, Punjab jails have also hit the headlines with the seizure of a large number of mobile phones, and other banned objects from the inmates raising questions over the security arrangements inside the state’s prisons.
Only recently, the Faridkot Modern Jail superintendent was suspended after a clip of Canada-based gangster Sukha Duneke’s aide, making a video call from the jail, was widely shared on social media. In the viral video, the accused, Karan Sharma, can be seen talking to someone on a video call from his barrack and he was also seen showing him around.