Jails Min meets gangster to learn tricks to beat outlaws

Punjab Jail Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa is turning to the gangsters for combating crime. In a unique initiative, Randhawa met a gangster-turned-social activist Lakha Sidhana to learn the tricks of the trade to beat the outlaws in their own games.

During the meeting, that lasted for hours, Lakhbir Singh alias Lakha Sidhana lay bare the harsh reality of the State’s jails highlighting corruption inside the jails, how the women constables facilitate drug trafficking in the jails, and how many became prisoners just to do business in the jail, and what not!

A senior official informed The Pioneer that Sidhana told the Minister that everything was available inside the jails, including drugs, phones, etc, adding that one just have to pay the right cost.

Now a social activist, Sidhana had no less than 26 criminal cases registered against him at one point of time for murder, kidnapping and other heinous crimes. He is still facing two cases under the Arms Act.

Besides, he was facing three more cases for defacing signboards in support of his mother tongue — Punjabi, and one for going ‘live’ on Facebook from inside the Faridkot jail.

Giving details to the Minister regarding the corruption activities going on in the jails of Nabha, Kapurthala, and Ferozepur, Sidhana also disclosed names of few “corrupt” jail officials which Randhawa noted in his personal diary. He also alleged that the jail officials deliberately delay the parole of some prisoners to extort money from them.

Mincing no words, Sidhana pointed finger at the jail officials for selling ‘chitta’ inside the jails, and in fact, mobile phones could not enter the iron walls of the jails without the connivance of its officials.

Official said that Sidhana urged the Minister to exercise complete strictness on the jail officials and staff to curb the unlawful activities inside the jails including selling of drugs.

Sidhana also threw light on the ways and procedure to take the mobile phones, or other prohibited items, inside the jails. He also alleged that the prisoners get items from the jail canteen at double rates.

He also pointed out that the present superintended of Nabha Modern Jail, Balkar Singh Bhullar, has served four-month sentence in a murder case, and appointing such a person as superintendent of not a right decision.

Acting swiftly, the Minister right away called the official concerned directing to look into the matter and replacing Bhullar.

Randhawa described the meeting fruitful adding that he has received many inputs to make the jails fool-proof and improve security. “Many steps have been initiated, and there is need to do much more,” he said.