Punjab minister demands jail modernisation fund

PATIALA: State jail minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has sought jail modernisation fund to put an end to increasing instances of smuggling of mobile phones and drugs inside jail premises.
Randhawa said he has also demanded that body scanners be installed inside 12 central jails where some of the most dreaded Khalistani and other terrorists have been lodged along with some gangsters.

Randhawa, who held a meeting with CM Capt Amarinder Singh about four months back, said the state wanted the Centre to show altruism in creating a special fund for Punjab jails which were holding back some of the most dreaded terrorists and gangsters who needed to be controlled even within the premises.

“It is only through technological upgradations like complete body scanners and 4G jammers that the state jails can be made fully secured for retaining such criminals. We need more force and other ammunition, and with the present budget it is almost impossible to incorporate the advanced equipment in the jail security systems,” he said adding that till the time full body scanner and 4G jammers are not installed inside the jails, keeping a tab on use of mobile phones and drugs would continue to be a major challenge for the jail security staff.