Jailhouse shock: Mobiles, drugs, fights and murder

Ludhiana: In the past five months, Ludhiana Central Jail has recovered 104 mobile phones from its inmates and reported 12 cases under the NDPS Act and 15 of scuffles, besides a murder.
In the same period last year, the jail witnessed comparatively less number of cases of scuffle and mobile recovery. As per the data provided by the jail authorities, in the first five months of 2018, six cases of scuffle were reported, 45 mobiles were recovered, 19 cases under the NDPS Act were registered and one murder was reported.
The Ludhiana jail hit the headlines on April 10 when an inmate, Livtar Singh, was found dead in a bathroom with a drawstring around his neck.A SIT was formed and it held three inmates guilty of killing Livtar over drugs. In its report, SIT stated that Livtar was a conduit for drugs and intoxicating pills in the jail and he hid them in his private parts. The accused, Sunny Khullar, Shakti and Pritam, killed him when Livtar did not give them the drugs he had brought in his anus. SIT officials said that there were several inmates who were known in the jail by the name ‘dikki’, which meant a person who brought contraband in his private parts.
Jail superintendent Shamsher Singh Boparai said, “More recoveries of cellphones indicate that the jail authorities have become more vigilant. We are conducting regular surprise checks and in majority of the cases, phones are thrown from outside. About scuffles, I would say people lodged in the jails are criminals and they have a tendency to fight. We keep a vigil, but are short of staff.”
When asked about recoveries of drugs and intoxicating pills, Boparai said, “We don’t have body scanners to catch inmates who insert them in anus.”
WHAT AILS JAILS
1) Less security: There are approximately 3,200 inmates in the Ludhiana jail and only 77 security personnel. In 2018, the government had announced to provide 25 CISF personnel, but they have not joined.
2) Need more CCTVs: There are only 64 CCTV cameras installed in the central jail. The superintendent has demanded 200 more.
3) No body scanner: To recover mobiles, drugs and intoxicating pills hidden in body parts, the jail officials need body scanners, each of which costs Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore. Jails minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawan said he has written to the finance department for funds, but the demand has not been approved yet.
4) No counselling: In February last, during the visit of jails minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, an NGO conducted a survey in the Ludhiana prison with a proposal to start yoga, meditation, counselling and sports activities for the inmates to reduce clashes and suicides. At present, the jail has only one counsellor, who is a woman and inmates hesitate to share their feelings with her.
Cases this year so far
FIRs under the NDPS Act: 12
FIRs for scuffle: 15
Number of mobiles recovered: 104
Murder: 1