Drugs, phones tossed inside Faridkot prison; nearby residents under watch

As smugglers increasingly adopt the “aerial route” by throwing banned items over the 30-foot-high boundary wall of Central Modern Jail, Faridkot, SSP Dr Pragya Jain has directed all local police stations and station house officers (SHOs) to maintain the updated records of residents living near the jail.The move comes amid growing suspicion that some locals may be collaborating with inmates in this smuggling operation. Residents have also been told to inform the police before renting out their properties, as there are concerns that such spaces may be misused by criminal elements to carry out their illegal activities.

In response to the escalating crisis, where an increasing number of mobile phones and drug packets are being seized from inmates, around 150 police personnel conducted a surprise three-hour raid inside the jail on Monday.

The operation, led by SSP Dr Pragya Jain, with support from the jail administration, involved five dedicated police teams that conducted a comprehensive inspection of all parts of the jail — including barracks, canteen, bathrooms, outer walls and surveillance systems.

The women’s barracks were searched separately by female personnel.

Despite the deployment of sniffer dogs and heightened vigilance, smugglers often wrap mobile phones and drugs in cushioned materials and hurl these towards the pre-decided spots inside the jail compound, where inmates then retrieve the items. This renders sniffer dogs largely ineffective, as they are stationed at the entry gates, meant for checking visitors and incoming goods.

“They are at the gates, but the contraband is now flying in from above,” remarked a prison official.

SSP Jain emphasised that such sudden inspections would now be conducted regularly. “These checks instill fear among wrong-doers and remind everyone that illegal activities will not go undetected or unpunished,” she stated.

Punjab