Curb on mobile phone use by Odisha jail personnel, reward for seizing contraband

BHUBANESWAR: The state prisons directorate has prohibited the use of cell phones by their personnel in jails. Until now, only inmates were barred from carrying cell phones in jails.
The warning to jail staff members against the use of mobile phones came amid suspicion that some mischievous personnel had been abusing their position and filmed different locations inside some prisons. The videos later went viral on social media.
Director general of police (prisons) Santosh Upadhyay has issued an advisory, which clearly stated that nobody, including senior officials like the superintendents and jailers can carry mobile phones and money to jails. Upadhyay said all staff members should deposit their mobile phones and purses with the gate warders.
“They cannot carry phones, money and other articles during inspection of wards. In cases of emergency, the superintendents and jailers may use their mobile phones only inside their office chambers for official purpose only,” Upadhyay said.
The advisory said that some unscrupulous and disgruntled subordinate staff members might have recorded jail premises in the past and circulated the videos in social media to defame the prisons administration. Last week, the Jharpada special jail in Bhubaneswar lodged a complaint with the Laxmisagar police after a video, purportedly filmed inside the prison went viral on social media.
“All jail staff members should be physically checked during entry and exit at the jails by their superiors. Personnel should ensure that nobody throws mobile phones and other articles into the jails from outside the boundary walls,” Upadhyay said.
According to the circular, concerned prisons authorities would immediately lodge police complaints in the wake of finding of videos of jails on social media. “For smooth management and functioning of the jails, the superintendents and jailers should be more vigilant and ensure that mobile phones and other articles do not enter the prisons,” the advisory said.
Upadhyay asked the prisons officials to intensify checking of cells and wards to prevent the access of banned articles, including cigarettes, ganja, gutka, contraband and mobile phones to inmates. He warned of strict action if any jail staffs colluded with inmates in any wrongdoing.
“We already have a reward policy in which jail personnel are given some cash reward and a commendation letter for seizing contraband and other articles from cells of inmates. They may get meritorious medals as well. The wrongdoers would be severely punished. Jail in-charge and guarding staff would face action if any prohibited articles are found in jails,” Upadhyay said.
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