The system has been installed in Amritsar and Kapurthala central jails to check criminals operating from inside the prison.
Taking serious note of criminals operating their gangs from inside jails through mobile phones by using phone calls and internet, the Punjab government has installed call blocking system in three central jails. The call blocking system has been installed inside the jail complex in Amritsar and Kapurthala central jails. The system will curb the unauthorised calls made by inmates.
The decision to install call blocking system has been taken after several gangsters and drugs smugglers were found running their networks from inside jails. Meanwhile, the police have also identified that cross-border drug smuggling networks are also being operated from inside jails through internet and normal calls.
A number of mobile phones were recovered from inside jails by authorities. During the course of investigation, it was brought to the notice of authorities that some central jails are located in thick populated areas and mobiles phones were thrown inside the jails from residential areas. Several incidents exposed the use of mobile phones and having internet access inside jails. There have been recent incidents, including one killed in a gangwar inside jail and video put out on social media, as well as birthday bash of a friend by inmate on video call from jail. Such incidents have exposed the smooth use of smart phones inside jails. The call blocking system will block the networks from 2G to 5G and also block the usage of phone calls and access of internet. Initially, the system was installed in two jails where most of the accused involved in cross-border drugs smuggling are lodged and running their nexus from jails. Call blocking systems are under trail at both jails and soon will be fully operational after analysing their results.