Mobile seized from accused lodged in Patiala central jail

ARRESTED BY POLICE IN APRIL, SULAKHAN WAS THE FIRST TO ENTER THE NABHA JAIL ON NOV 27 IN A GUISE OF AN ASI, DODGING THE SECURITY

PATIALA: In a major security lapse, a mobile phone was recovered from a Nabha jailbreak accused lodged inside the Patiala central jail.

The jail authorities seized the phone from Sulakhan Singh, alias Babbar Sultan, of Mattewal village in Amritsar on Monday. Sulakhan however, managed to destroy the SIM card. He is the son of slain terrorist Sheetal Singh Mattewal.

Arrested by Nawanshahr police in April, Sulakhan was the first to enter the Nabha jail on November 27 in a guise of an ASI, dodging the security. Later, he opened fire to free Khalistan Liberation Force chief Harminder Singh Mintoo and other gangsters.

Sulakhan was accompanied gangsters Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Ghanshampur, Supreet Singh alias Harry Chatha, Prema Singh alias Prema Lahoriya and others.

“The recovery of mobile from such a hardcore criminal is not a good sign. This indicates that he is in touch with his network outside the jail,” said a police official, who said a report has been sent to the higher officials.

Patiala superintendent of police (SP) Kesar Singh said police have registered a first information report on the complaint of jail authorities.

“We will quiz Sulakhan,” he added. The SP said jail authorities have been told to ensure proper frisking of hardcore criminals on routine basis and random checks of their barracks.