JAMMU, Jan 12: Another cell phone has been found by the authorities in the possession of an inmate detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) at the high security Central Jail in the Kot Bhalwal neighbourhood of this city’s outskirts. According to official sources, searches were conducted in the barracks housing hardened criminals, particularly those sentenced under the UAPA and PSA, based on particular inputs. One cell phone was found in the custody of a prisoner involved in a public service announcement, according to sources. Six charges involving the recovery of drugs and cell phones from Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal inmates have been filed with Police Station Gharota in less than two months. Notably, a few days ago, jail officials also found one cell phone belonging to a militant from Lashkar-e-Taiba who was incarcerated. “A smartphone was found on Habib, a prisoner from Haria Chak in Kathua, and was given to the Jammu and Kashmir Police.” According to insiders, “We are attempting to investigate the security breach that allowed this smartphone to enter the jail.” The smartphone that was found belongs to a Chinese company called POCO. The National Investigation Agency charged Habib in January of last year in connection with the retrieval and interception of a Hexacopter drone, as well as rounds of UBGL and magnetic bombs, from the vicinity of Dhalli, which is under the district of Kathua.Jail sources claim that Habib also attempted suicide while incarcerated, but the authorities intervened in time to stop him. They indicated he was going to be placed under police remand to look into the retrieval of cell phones. Notably, on November 22, 2023, a shipment of drugs was found inside a jail cricket ball; on November 28, drugs were taken into custody; on January 2, cell phones and earphones were found inside the jail grounds; on January 9, a cell phone was found inside the jail; on January 9 itself, three cell phones were found inside the jail grounds; and on January 11, a cell phone was found inside the jail from a prisoner.
