Mumbai: Ramesh Kamble, Nashik Jail Superintendent, who inspected the jail last week found 11 prisoners serving life sentence in the jail using cell phones. According to Mr Kamble, the inspection was based on suspicion and yielded eight mobile phone handsets from different barracks and some of the prisoners were also caught while talking over the phones. It was then decided to shift the prisoners to Pune and Navi Mumbai jails.
Mr Kamble further added that, following the inspection and seizure; Inspector General of Police (Prisons) Rajendra Dhamane had also paid a two-day visit to the Nashik Road Central Jail and inspected the jail barracks.
Prison staff due to the lenient security checks they have to undergo unlike other visitors usually smuggles mobile phones in. The prisoners and their relatives usually bribe the staff and ensure that the devices get into the hands of the inmates.
Mr Kamble said that while five prisoners were shifted to Pune Central Jail, six others were shifted to Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai on Monday. He however did not disclose whether the phone calls made by the prisoners would be probed or an inquiry would be held into how the devices found their way in the prison.
Also, in November 10 handsets had been seized from a jail in Chennai in a similar surprise check.
