IMPHAL, October 15: Jail guards posted at Central Jail, Sajiwa caught a woman while trying to smuggle a Nokia mobile phone battery inside the jail premises.
The report surfaced against the back drop of the installation of phone jammers and Closed-Circuit Television as efforts to counter extortion and other criminal network allegedly operated from inside the jail using mobile phones.
Sources said that the incident occurred on October 12 at around 1.15 pm.
The battery was found concealed inside the inner garment of Punimasi Devi, 41, wife of Kh Robi Singh, of Kadangban Part-I Singda Dam, Imphal district, who came to visit her husband who is currently lodged in the jail.
A complaint has been lodged at the Heingang Police station by L Biren Singh, Jailor of the central jail under FIR No.70(10)2013 HNG PS u/s 45(12) of prison act 1894.
Moreover, the seizure of mobile phone battery further indicated the possibility of mobile phones being used clandestinely by inmates lodged in the jail.
Sajiwa Jail is notoriously known as a haven for inmates especially militants and other criminals, to operate networks of anti-social activities from inside their cells using mobile phones.
There have been many instances where jail guards have intercepted or recovered mobiles phones and other illegal items from several individuals.
In an attempt to counter the menace, Home Minister Gaikhangam, in May this year, had personally visited the Central Jail and inspected the ground situation and subsequently came up with plans for renovating the jail infrastructure and other needs.