Prisoners break rules freely
Jailbirds with clout using cellphones, pen drives with music and smoke marijuana
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-08-28 00:09 GMT
Hyderabad:Some prisoners of Cherlapally jail are leading a jolly life with mobile phones and music. They also have easy access to marijuana and cigarettes. Apart from cash for bail scam accused rowdy sheeter Yadgiri, an accused in the Akbaruddin Owaisi attempt to murder case, one Pahelwan, was also caught with a SIM card.
In the surprise check five pen drives, ganja and Rs 2,000 were recovered from the prisoners. Meanwhile, the new DG of prisons, Mr V.K. Singh has deployed special teams to conduct surprise raids in jails.
Sources said that Yadgiri was using his phones for financial and land settlements. He openly used the phones in jail, and posed for photos. The DG’s team seized two cellphones from Yadgiri, which were tied to his thighs. Officials said that the seized pen drives contained music and movies, and some inmates used to connect them to the prison TV.
Officials also admitted that marijuana was very often found with the inmates. “The gadgets and drugs are smuggled by the inmates concealed in their privates. The role of guards is being probed,” an official said.
The DG said that he had no intention to suspend any official as it can demoralise them. “However, if anybody is found at fault in future, action will be taken.” Mr V.K. Singh said.
Though there were proposals to set up mobile phone jammers, body scanners and metal detectors in the jail, nothing has materialised so far. "Funds are a major concern. However, we are still trying to install these equipment. If mobile jammers are installed in the prison, people living in surrounding areas might also get affected, said Mr V.K. Singh.