Three Mobile Phones Seized Inside Rajouri Jail, Probe Ordered
RAJOURI, Sept 11: In a fresh security breach, authorities on Wednesday recovered three mobile phones during a surprise search operation inside the district jail of Rajouri, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of the security apparatus at the high-security facility.
According to officials, the search was launched based on specific intelligence inputs and carried out by multiple teams under the supervision of the jail administration. The seized devices, though without SIM cards, have been sent to a forensic laboratory for technical examination to determine possible usage and data retrieval.
A formal case has been registered, and a probe is underway to establish how the prohibited devices managed to make their way past the jail’s three-tier security system. Sources revealed that the prison complex is equipped with mobile jammers, intended to block network signals and prevent communication from within. However, the recovery has triggered suspicion that either the jammers were compromised or inmates managed to exploit gaps in the system.
“This jail is supposed to be digitally secured. Officially, no mobile network should function in or around the premises, but the presence of mobile phones strongly suggests possible loopholes or collusion,” a senior source observed.
This is not the first time contraband phones have been found inside prisons in Jammu and Kashmir. On July 24, a smartphone was seized from an undertrial prisoner in the Central Jail at Kotbhalwal on the outskirts of Jammu city. Earlier, on January 10 last year, authorities recovered a smartphone from the possession of a jailed Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative. In July 2021, as many as 12 mobile phones, along with SIM cards and other electronic gadgets, were confiscated from inmates during a raid.
Officials say these recurring incidents point to systemic challenges in prison management and underline the need for stricter monitoring of personnel and visitors, as well as an upgrade in surveillance technology. The use of mobile phones by inmates is a grave security risk, as it can enable coordination with external networks, aid criminal activity, or even facilitate terror-related communications.
Authorities have assured that the investigation will also examine possible insider involvement and assess whether the existing digital security measures need reinforcement. With past instances already highlighting a worrying trend, the latest recovery is expected to intensify calls for a comprehensive audit of jail security across Jammu and Kashmir.
