60 Phones Seized From Patiala Jail Inmates

Around 60 cellular phones seized from prisoners during the last 4 months have rung alarm bells for the jail authorities in Patiala.

They have been gossiping with lady friends, surfing the web, posting messages on the social networking site, Facebook and doing videoconferences through Skype on cellular phones. A criminal, who utilizes his phone as public call office (PCO), makes cash by arranging calls for other inmates.

“Reporter Saab, main jail cho bol riha wa…Aaj barrack 7 ch kaidi lad paye ne… ek jakhmi hoya…khabar bhej deo…nale eh vi likh deo ke khane di quality mari wa” (Reporter sir, I am calling you from the jail. Today, two inmates clashed in barrack 7, one of whom is injured seriously. Send a report and do mention in the story that the quality food in the prison is bad.),” is a usual call to reporters from within the Patiala Central prison.

On May 7, jail guards seized 3 cellphones concealed a foot deep inside the earth outside barrack 7.

“We don’t hide the recoveries, so our number might appear more serious other jails,” said jail superintendent Bhupinder Singh Virk. “I have launched an operation to clear the prison of drugs and cellphones. We have seized almost 60 cellular phones, and it’s disgusting that a few have been kept for over 18 months.”

They keep them on ceiling fans, under kitchen waste, inside cracks in wooden articles and walls, and everywhere you can’t even imagine. Wrapped in plastic, some sets were found in lavatory flush tanks.

“Mostly, inmates keep mobile phone to stay connected with family but now it’s also a way to reach girlfriends and access social media,” said Virk.

Previously, there was no penalty if the phone was seized. Now an revision in Section 52-A (1) of the Prisons Act of 1894, has permitted 2-year prison for the offense, even though no court has thus far settled any case.

“Once an inmate is punished, inmates will know and respect the regulation,” added Virk.

In order to prevent the running of criminal networks from prison, the jail department has banned outside eatables and mobile phones on the campus. In the high-security prison of Nabha, which also is in Patiala district, the police last year had seized many mobile phones and exposed militants using a full-size multi-gym.