Thiruvananthapuram: Exposing security lapses at Central Prison and Correctional Home, Poojappura, officers seized a mobile phone from an inmate during an inspection.The mobile phone was spotted this time in the inner wear of an inmate, Shafeek U T, 28, of Pachira near Pallipuram. Police registered a case against him under Section 86 (2) of the Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services (Management) Act-2010. “The mobile phone is sent for forensic examination to trace the owner using its IMEI number. A detailed probe will be ensured this time to identify how the mobile phones reached inside the prison,” said station house officer at Poojappura police.This is the fifth time a mobile phone was seized from the prison. In previous incidents, mobile phones were spotted on the roof of the toilets and also found wrapped in plastic covers in the courtyard. In all cases, police identified the owners of the mobile phones.However, the probe team could not find how the mobile phones reached the inmates inside the central prison, where the security measures are fully capped.A year ago, a mobile phone was spotted inside the prison, and during the investigation, it was found that a prisoner on ‘parole’ threw it over the boundary wall for another inmate. “We will check CCTV visuals inside to know how the phone reached there,” said police.In addition to the seizure of mobile phones, ganja was seized from the prison four times and banned tobacco products once in the past two years. In addition to these, two jail breaks were also reported and three inmates tried to commit suicide.The jail authorities blamed a shortage of staff and overcrowded cells for all the mess.
