Want drugs, liquor or weapons? Visit Punjab jails

Punjab jails are in the news for dubious activities. The situation has become alarming now after a series of serious crimes were reported from the state’s biggest jails, including Bathinda Central Jail and Ferozepur Jail recently.

Be it the supply of drugs, liquor, weapons or other prohibited activities like mobile phones and internet, state jails have earned a bad name. Jailed criminals, in connivance with corrupt prison officials, are running their "business" from prison cells, while enjoying all kinds of luxuries.

A bloody gang war took place in Bathinda Central Jail on April 16 when gangster Kulbir Singh Naruana, who was lodged in the jail, allegedly opened fire from a country-made pistol at his rival gangster Gurdeep Singh Manna. The victim suffered a bullet injury in his abdomen and was rushed to a local hospital. Though his life was saved, his mother is apprehensive that he might be killed.

Meanwhile, the injured gangster alleged that the Bathinda Jail authorities had provided the accused with a mobile phone and the country-made pistols. It is worth mentioning here that Mail Today had carried the story of this gangster (Naruana) after he had uploaded his photos on his Facebook account.

Five jail officials, including assistant superintendent Balbir Singh, head warden Harbans Singh and Warder Labh Singh have been indicted by a departmental probe. Balbir Singh has already been suspended, but no action has been taken against jail superintendent Raj Mohinder Singh and a deputy superintendent so far.

“My department is reviewing the security arrangements of all 28 state jails particularly those situated in the cities and townships. Jatinder Ladi, a member of Naruana’s gang, had admitted that he had picked up the pistol from along the boundary wall and buried it in the jail complex before delivering it to Naruana.

Our investigation revealed that the pistol had reached Naruana a day before the incident. We will not spare anybody found guilty,” Punjab jail minister Sohan Singh Thandal stated while admitting that the incidents were of serious nature.

After the gang war in Bathinda Jail, Patti Jail in Taran Taran district also courted a major controversy. A probe ordered by the police had found the jail deputy superintendent guilty of organising an obscene dance performance by female dancers within the jail premises. Sources said that the jail authorities first organised the Sukhmani Sahib Path (recital of hymns) and then called three female dancers. Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee president Avtar Singh Makkar has said that by organising the dance programme, the jail authorities have also insulted Sikh religion. A probe report submitted to Punjab director general, prisons, RP Meena stated that influential undertrials had convinced the jail superintendent to organise the dance show for a hefty amount. It is not known whether the money was paid by the jail authorities or the undertrials.

Patti Jail was also in the news after photographs of an undertrial — Shiromani Akali Dal leader Swarn Singh Bhagupur sitting with the jail officials — had gone viral on social media. Swarn Singh had murdered the Congress leader Sukhraj Singh during the panchayat elections in broad daylight. Another murder accused, Jaskaran, was also given "VIP" treatment by jail authorities during the Baisakhi festival event organised there.

This is not the first time that the involvement of jail officials in criminal activities has come to light. The Punjab Police department has already suspended over a dozen officials for involvement in drug smuggling. A drunk Sangrur Jail superintendent, Bohad Singh, gunned down a liquor vend manager in February this year for refusing to give him extra shots. The accused had consumed a full bottle of liquor, and asked for another which was refused by the victim. The jailer was arrested later.

In a shocking incident reported in July 2014, Nabha Jail inmates in Khanna had alleged that they are being tortured for not selling drugs to the jail inmates. Even former DGP, jails, Shashi Kant in September that year had said that Punjab jails are dens of narcotics smuggling and that jail officials are involved in this trade.