CHANDIGARH/TARN TARAN, March 5:
Sending a strong message against negligence on part of law and order as per the commitment of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police on Sunday have suspended seven jail officials of which five have been arrested including a Superintendent of Central Jail, Goindwal Sahib for negligence and alleged connivance with jail inmates in a video leak case.
A video from Goindwal Sahib Central Jail got viral on Sunday, in which Sachin Bhiwani and his associates were seen talking about the incident in which two gangsters were killed in a Gangwar between two groups that took place in jail premises on February 26, 2023.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill, who was addressing a press conference at Punjab Police Headquarters here, has identified the five jail officials— who were suspended and arrested, as Jail Superintendent Iqbal Singh Brar, Additional Jail Superintendent Vijay Kumar, Assistant Jail Superintendent Harish Kumar, ASI Joginder Singh and ASI Harchand Singh. While, the other two suspended jail officials include Additional Jail Superintendent Jaspal Singh Khaira and Head Constable Savinder Singh.
A case FIR No. 102 has been registered under section 66 of the Information Technology Act, section 52 of the Prisons Act, sections 506 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Police Station Goindwal Sahib. Initially, the case was registered against jail inmates including Manpreet Singh alias Bhau, Sachin Bhiwani alias Sachin Chaudhary, Ankit Latti alias Ankit Sirsa, Kashish alias Kuldeep, Rajinder alias Joker, Hardeep Singh alias Mamma, Baldev Singh alias Nikku, Deepak alias Mundi and Malkit Singh alias Kita.
The IGP said that following the investigations, Police have nominated jail officials in this FIR for their negligence and apparent connivance with the jail inmates after video, which was shot on the day of incident, got leaked a few days later. Accused jail inmates will be brought on production warrant for further investigations, he added.
He said that after this incident in the jail, Police and Jail authorities have already segregated the accused persons and shifted them to various different jails in the state.
IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said that Punjab Police have strict directions from the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government that if any government employee found negligent in duty should be dealt with iron hands.
Meanwhile, Punjab Police will further increase the vigil at Jail premises and surprise checkings will be conducted by the senior rank officers in the jails to prevent this kind of incident in future.
