Mobile Phone Recovered from High-security Jail in South Kashmir, FIR Registered

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir police have registered an FIR after a mobile phone with an active SIM card was recovered from the high-security District Jail Anantnag during a recent search operation, officials said.

The recovery was made on January 31 during a joint search conducted by police, CRPF, jail staff and other security agencies. A black POCO mobile phone was found concealed inside barrack of the jail.

Jail authorities in a complaint to the police said the recovery of active mobile phone inside the prison cannot be treated as a mere prison offence, as it enables unauthorised communication between inmates and people outside, potentially facilitating criminal conspiracies and interference with the justice system.

“The possession and concealment of the said mobile phone inside a secured prison environment clearly indicates meeting of minds among unknown persons, including inmates and external elements, for carrying out illegal activities, the exact nature and extent of which can be unearthed only through a detailed criminal investigation,” the jail authorities said.

“The unauthorised communication from inside jail premises has the potential to influence witnesses, tamper with evidence, coordinate criminal activities outside jail, and obstruct or derail judicial and investigative processes,” said an official.

Following the complaint, an FIR was registered at Police Station Mattan under sections 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 158 (misuse of official position by a public servant) and 49 (abetment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Police said a probe has been initiated to identify those involved and ascertain how the phone entered the high-security jail.

The District Jail Anantnag was commissioned on December 31, 2011, and has a capacity of 213 inmates. (UNI)