Guwahati: The superintendent of Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam was arrested on Friday in connection with the seizure of electronic gadgets, including a smartphone, from inmates affiliated with the radical outfit ‘Waris Punjab De’, police sources have said.
The jail official was apprehended early in the morning for alleged “negligence” and is now under police custody at Dibrugarh Sadar Police Station.
The arrest came shortly after the recent discovery of electronic devices in the cells of detainees who had been charged with the National Security Act (NSA).
The confiscated items include a smartphone with a SIM card, a keypad phone, a TV remote with a keyboard, a spy camera pen, pen drives, Bluetooth headphones, and speakers.
“Reference NSA Detainees at Dibrugarh Jail, Assam – On receipt of information about unauthorized activities taking place in NSA cell, additional CCTV cameras were installed in the public area of NSA block,” stated Director General of Police GP Singh in a social media post.
Singh also assured that lawful measures are being implemented to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Ten members of the pro-Khalistani outfit, including its top leader Amritpal Singh and one of his uncles, have been housed in Dibrugarh central jail since March 19 last year under the NSA following a crackdown on the outfit in different parts of Punjab.
In response to the heightened security risk posed by the arrival of these radical outfit members from Punjab, multi-tier security arrangements were implemented in the jail. Additional CCTV cameras were installed, and all faulty cameras were repaired or replaced.
Constructed in 1859-60, Dibrugarh prison stands as one of the oldest and most high-security correctional facilities in the Northeast region.
Meanwhile, in Punjab, the Akal Takht has formed a sub-committee to take up the matter of shifting Dibrugarh (Assam) Central Jail detainees to Punjab.
The development comes amidst reports of family members of the detainees meeting Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh.
It was reported that Amritpal Singh and nine others, charged under the NSA and lodged in Dibrugarh jail, have been on a hunger strike since February 16. They accused jail authorities of violating their privacy by installing surveillance cameras in their barracks and bathrooms without their consent.
In solidarity, their relatives have also been on a hunger strike since February 22 at Heritage Street leading to the Golden Temple, demanding the transfer of the Dibrugarh detainees to a jail in Punjab.
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