Andhra Pradesh: Five Kadapa Jail officials suspended after mobile phones recovered from prisoners

Five Kadapa Central Jail officials have been suspended after mobile phones were found with remand prisoners, including red sander smuggler Jakir. A DIG-level probe revealed staff collusion, prompting action by Director General, Prisons, amid serious concerns over security lapses

Vijayawada: Five officials of Kadapa Central Jail in Andhra Pradesh have been suspended after mobile phones were found in the possession of some remand prisoners.

Jailor Appa Rao, Deputy Superintendent Kamalakar and three jail wardens have been suspended following the discovery of a major security breach.

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Anjani Kumar, Director General, Prisons, issued orders suspending the jail officials.

Ten mobile phones were found in the possession of notorious red sander smuggler Jakir, who was lodged in Kadapa Central Jail for over four months. There have been allegations that jail staff helped in providing phones to the prisoner.

The incident has raised serious concerns about lapses in prison security.

Taking serious note of this, the DG, Prisons, ordered a probe.

Rajahmundry Central Jail DIG Ravi Kiran rushed to the jail on July 16 for the investigation. He oversaw the probe for four days.

The DIG interrogated both prisoners and jail staff to find out how the mobile phones entered the high-security premises.

Based on the preliminary investigation report of the DIG, Director General, Prisons, ordered the suspension of five jail officials.

Investigations reportedly revealed that prisoner Jakir had access to mobile phones with the collusion of jail staff. The red sander smuggler was using the phones to be in regular contact with individuals outside, raising concerns that he might be running smuggling operations from jail.

Mobile phones recovered from the prisoner, detained under the Preventive Detention Act, were handed over to RIMS Police Station.

On the direction of the DIG, call records were retrieved from the devices. Officials identified the individuals with whom the prisoners communicated.

During questioning, some staff members told the DIG that mobile phones were being thrown over the compound wall from outside. However, the official ruled out this possibility in the high-security jail and probed the involvement of insiders.