Punjab jails to become virtual correction homes soon: Sukhbir Badal

Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday reiterated his commitment to turn the state jails as virtual ‘Correction Homes’ by ensuring implementation of jail manual in true letter and spirit and asked additional director general of police (ADGP prisons) to take all required steps to check any illegal activity, especially usage of drugs or mobile phones in jails by jail inmates.
Badal, who is in China these days leading a high level delegation, reviewed the Sunday’s joint swift action of Punjab police and jails department in State jails with Punjab director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora and ADGP (prisons) MK Tiwari through telephone.
Badal further said that stringent legal action should be taken against any violation, so that these jails shouldn’t become breeding ground for anti social elements. He also emphasised the need for usage of latest technology in the form of jammers, CCTV cameras, besides pressing in to service the highly trained sniffer dogs to keep tab on notorious jail inmates.
DGP Arora informed Badal that keeping in view the shortage of officers in jail department, the state police has decided to post some tough officers as jail superintendents for the efficient management of central jails.
He said that during the recent statewide search operations, some shortcomings have been noticed and jail department has been apprised of those. He said that 82 mobile phones had been seized in last four months and 65 more were on Sunday. He said that soon all the jails of state would have sufficient jammers and coverage of their every nook and corner with CCTV cameras.
Meanwhile, deputy jail superintendent Amritsar Kulwant Singh and superintendent Patti sub-jail Devinder Singh Randhawa have been placed under suspension by the government. Tiwari said a high level enquiry has been constituted to fix the responsibility within seven days and stern action, including dismissal from service, could be taken against erring officials.