The Facebook page of Dilpreet Singh, facing charges of attempt to murder, gets regular updates
Gangster Kulbir Singh, whose photo from inside Bhatinda Jail was posted on Facebook, leaving Punjab's ruling Akali Dal red faced, is not the only one with access to Internet and smartphones, NDTV has found. Inmates of Ropar jail are also clicking photos and updating their Facebook status with equal ease.
The Facebook page of Dilpreet Singh, facing charges of attempt to murder, gets regular updates. His fellow prisoner Jasjit Singh, posted a picture with fellow inmates on March 16.
The photo that started unravelling it all - of Kulbir Singh, posing with four others, one of them even talking on cellphone - was posted on Facebook by one Jassa Mahalkhurd. The picture was pulled off the site today. Kulbir, an undertrial in an arms case, has been in jail for over a month now.
In 2010, the Parkash Singh Badal government had given the green signal for installing jammers in all seven Central jails of the state. So far, only three have it.
The opposition Congress has lost no time in hitting out at the ruling Akali Dal. "Akali Dal is responsible for all this. A drugs racket is being operated from inside prison cells. The government is allowing all this," said Sunil Jakhar, leader of opposition, Punjab.
But this was not the first time criminals from behind bars used social networking sites to spread terror. Two yeears ago, a video of gangster Sukha beating up a criminal inside Kapurthala jail had found its way into social media. No action was taken in the case.
This time, the state prisons minister SS Thandal has been forced to concede that jail authorities are corrupt. "Having prisoners updating Facebook from jail is a serious matter. Those officers who are hand-in-glove with the prisoners will be punished," the minister said.