IMPHAL, September 1: Two VDF personnel posted at Sajiwa Jail were caught while trying to smuggle in illegal items in their jungle boots by the jail authorities during checking.
The two VDF personnel have been identified as VDF No 832, Oinam Surchandra Singh, 27, son of O Ibungo Singh of Oinam Maning Leikai in Bishnupur District and VDF No 800, Elangbam Chitaranjan Singh, 27, son of late E Birjit Singh of Tronglaobi village in Bishnupur District.
Eight packets of Khaini and two packets of cigarettes were found hidden inside their boots by the jail officials during checking at the entrance gate.
Briefing media persons at Sajiwa Jail, IK Muivah, IPS, SP of Sajiwa Central Jail, expressed his strong desire to punish the culprits saying that this kind of act by security personnel has spoiled their reputation.
“I have seen so much improvement in Sajiwa Jail comparing with the past way of management and security system. But this kind of things has spoiled our reputation. We are here making every effort for the improvement of the Jail but people like them have splashed water on our efforts. It is quite shameful and we condemn it.”
Highlighting the problems faced by the Jail authorities he said that door frame metal detector (DFMD) and hand held metal detector (HHMD) they are using are old and defective. Also they cannot be operated as electricity supply in a day is only seven to eight hours whereas jail requires uninterrupted power supply, he said.
He continued that they have made a proposal to the Home Minister to implement Tihar Jail system of security at Sajiwa jail. Tihar Jail which has three tier security systems; Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is deployed at the out parimeter, Tamil Nadu Police at the middle layer and Jail staff in the inner area. They also have other facilities like CCTV Camera, mobile jammer etc., he added.
“CCTV is planned to be installed from the first week of this September month at Sajiwa Jail. Mobile Jammer after obtaining clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi and it is in the pipeline as an MOU is planned to be signed after which installation work will be taken up,” he further said.
When asked about the reported two handsets recovered from the septic tank of Sajiwa Jail, he said that the under trial prisoner Nando has confessed to Jail authorities on questioning that he was supplied one mobile phone (Pace) with two SIM cards for rupees five thousand by one VDF personnel named Nanao from Thoubal district deployed at Sajiwa Jail for three months in July last. The other phone Nokia 1100 model without SIM was given by one PLA prisoner named Bali when he went out on bail.
Meanwhile, the two VDF personnel caught while trying to smuggle in illegal items were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East by Heingang PS police and has been remanded to judicial custody at Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa in the evening.