38 instances of Tihar inmates sneaking in mobiles

NEW DELHI: There have been 38 instances of prisoners in high security Tihar Jail sneaking in mobile phones and six cases in which narcotic substances were recovered from them in the last three years, Lok Sabha was informed today.


In a written reply, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran said, "During the last three years and the current year (till March 10, 2013), there have been 38 instances when mobile phones have been sneaked into the Tihar Jail by the prisoners and six instances of narcotics drugs smuggling came to notice."

The Minister said prisoners found possessing mobile phones were punished as per the provisions of Delhi Jail Manual like withdrawing the facility of their meetings with visitors.

In cases where narcotic drugs were recovered from the prisoners, the matter was reported to Delhi Police and an FIR was lodged against them, he said.

To check such incidents in future, Ramachandran said, "32 cellphone jammers have been installed in jail to rule out any possibility of use of mobile phones by inmates in the jail. 258 CCTV cameras have also been installed to keep surveillance over the activities of prisoners."

Apart from these, door frame metal detectors, hand held metal detectors, X-ray scanners have been provided at the access points and in the entry lounges of the jails for proper screening of all articles brought by the prisoners, he said, adding personnel of Tamil Nadu Special Police have been deployed at the lounges for searching and frisking of prisoners, staff, visitors and articles brought by them.