Kolkata, 15 May (H.S.) : The West Bengal government on Friday suspended the Superintendent and Chief Controller of Presidency Correctional Home after allegations surfaced that inmates were using smartphones inside the jail premises. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the action during a press conference at Nabanna.

Addressing the media, the Chief Minister alleged that a section of jail authorities was involved in a nexus with criminals, allowing inmates to use mobile phones from inside the correctional facility. He said 23 smartphones had been recovered from Presidency Jail during recent searches.

“Criminals are operating their networks from inside prisons. This has not happened overnight. A nexus had developed over the years from the lower to the higher levels of the system,” Adhikari said while announcing the suspension of the two officials.

The Chief Minister further claimed that the alleged irregularities had continued during the tenure of the previous government and that information regarding the matter had already been communicated to the Director General of Correctional Services.

Issuing a stern warning to correctional home authorities across the state, Adhikari said prison officials would no longer be allowed to assist criminal activities in any form. He added that similar allegations had also emerged from other correctional facilities, including Dum Dum Central Jail and Berhampore Jail.

According to the Chief Minister, several mobile phones, including smartphones, were seized from Presidency Jail during inspections. He said the government would take strict measures to dismantle any criminal network operating from inside prisons and ensure tighter monitoring of correctional homes across West Bengal.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh