At Pratapgarh Jail, 2G jammers defunct, 4G yet to be installed

PRAYAGRAJ: The 2G jammers in the Pratapgarh district jail are lying kaput while the 4G jammers are yet to be installed at a time when the state government is cracking down on crime and striving to stop criminals orchestrating crimes from prisons.

Over 1,100 prisoners are lodged in the Pratapgarh district jail against its capacity of only 500 prisoners. The 2G jammers were installed many years back after it came to fore that some prisoners were using mobile phones and were even using social media sites from their phones.

However, after the introduction of the 4G network, the 2G jammers were of little use as prisoners started using the new technology. The jail administration then sent a proposal for the installation of advanced 4G jammers three years back. However, instead of installation of 4G jammers, the 2G jammers are now also defunct for a year.

Now, the prisoners can easily use their phones with 2G or 4G network and can access social media or make calls to their kin and accomplices.

It is common knowledge that hardcore criminals plot heinous crimes while sitting in jail and even give instructions to accomplices and henchmen from their barracks. In April 2012, one Parasnath Shukla was killed at Samogara. Police investigations revealed that the conspiracy to kill him was hatched in jail.

During different raids earlier, mobiles and other objectionable objects were recovered from the barracks. On March 4, 2019, the jail administration recovered two mobile phones from two prisoners during a surprise inspection. In January 2018, a phone was found from barrack number 3 of the jail and an FIR was lodged in this connection.

Acting jail superintendent RP Chaudhary said the decision to install jammers is taken at headquarter level. A proposal has already been sent for installation of 4G jammers. However, there is no effect on security at the jail due to defunct 2G jammers due to three level security arrangements, he added.