25 mobile phones recovered from Surat's Lajpore jail in a month

The streak of mobile phones being found in Surat's Lajpore Central Jail has continued constantly. In the period of the last one month, approximately 25 mobile phones and items like chargers have been recovered from the jail. Amid security claims, these devices continuously being found in the jail have raised serious questions over the security arrangements of the jail administration.

In a recent incident, on October 31 morning, Subedar Viha Bhadarka was assigned supervision duty at the circle of Lajpore jail's yard. In the morning hours, when he was taking rounds near the barracks, the movement of an under-trial prisoner appeared suspicious. Hence, his body search was conducted. During the inspection, it was found that a mobile phone of Keyoda company was recovered from the left-side pocket of the underwear worn inside the pants by the prisoner. There was no SIM card in this mobile phone. The accused has been identified as Dinesh alias Chhotu Ramkhiladi Yadav. Based on the complaint of Jailer Shivkumar Bamankhai Tadvi, Sachin Police has registered an offence against Dinesh.

It is notable that earlier, the Ahmedabad-Vadodara jail search squad had carried out a surprise checking in Lajpore jail and caught 11 mobile phones at once. Following this incident, the VIP culture prevailing in the jail was busted. Strict steps were taken by the DGP in this matter, in which employees including the jail's subedar, havaldar and sepoy were suspended along with the transfer of one jailer. Apart from this, 4 prisoners including cashier Chirag Bhagwad were also transferred to another jail.

Even though 25 mobile phones have been recovered in the last one month, the riddle of how mobile phones, pan-masala and cigarettes reach the jail remains unsolved. Discussions are also rife that in the name of action by the jail administration, only small prisoners are being acted against while major criminals are being saved. Since the reputation of the jail is being tarnished by influential prisoners, a demand has arisen to take strict punitive action against the officials too.