After gangster Bishnoi’s TV interviews, one other viral video exposes lax safety in Punjab’s high-security jails
CHANDIGARH: A video that went viral final week ready by 13 inmates of high-security Bathinda jail and registration of an FIR as soon as once more introduced into sharp focus the lax administration of prisons in Punjab.
The video vividly conveyed that medication and cellphones have been readily made out there to prisoners for a value – a results of connivance with sure officers of the jail administration. Jail Superintendent N.D. Negi, on deputation to the Punjab authorities from the BSF, obtained an FIR registered in opposition to all 13 prisoners. The FIR alleged that these prisoners have been making an attempt to blackmail officers and defame the administration usually. The prisoners had been demanding medication and telephones that the jail administration denied.
Although the Extra Director Basic of Police (ADGP), Jails, B. Chander Shekar transferred on Sunday and ADGP Arun Pal Singh took as the brand new Director Basic of prisons on Monday, the 2 controversial interviews of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi telecast on March 14 and March 18 by a nationwide TV channel didn’t elicit any motion continues to boost many eyebrows.
Bishnoi used cellphones to present interviews exposing lax safety preparations within the jail. The latest video launched by 13 inmates highlighted the identical laxity. Curiously the Bathinda jail administration didn’t get any FIR registered in opposition to Bishnoi although he dedicated the identical offence violating the jail guide.
The Punjab authorities first ordered an inquiry, however earlier than its completion, constituted a Particular Investigation Crew (SIT) headed by ADGP Arun Pal to look into the functioning of the Bathinda jail administration. The suspected jail officers who facilitated gangster Bishnoi’s back-to-back interviews proceed to be on lively duties that might adversely have an effect on the objectivity of SIT findings.
One more obtrusive instance of laxity within the administration of jails within the state got here from Goindwal Sahib’s high-security jail through which two prisoners have been murdered following a struggle between two teams of gangsters. At the very least seven officers have been suspended and an inquiry was ordered. However no solutions can be found as to why an analogous step was not taken in Bathinda jail laxity.
DGP, Jails, Arun Pal Singh when contacted mentioned that he had simply joined and wouldn’t prefer to remark. Makes an attempt to get a response from the officiating Superintendent of Bathinda jail, Inderjit Singh Khalon additionally went futile.
In the meantime, advocate R. S. Bajaj defined that there couldn’t be separate yardsticks for a similar crime. “If an FIR is registered in opposition to 13 prisoners for making a video viral, likewise Lawrence Bishnoi too was required to be booked beneath a separate FIR for violating provisions of the jail guide,” he added.
Bajaj additional mentioned that motion beneath part 120-B of the IPC was important in opposition to the officers of the jail for his or her attainable connivance in facilitating the smuggling of contraband into the jail other than departmental proceedings for dereliction in obligation.