Security Employee Arrested in Ludhiana Jail Smuggling Scandal
A security employee has been apprehended for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated "throw-and-bury" smuggling operation at Ludhiana's Central Jail, where he supplied inmates with prohibited items including mobile phones, intoxicating powders, and nearly 1.5 kilograms of tobacco.
Dawn Patrol Uncovers Elaborate Scheme
The Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (Pesco) employee, identified as Manpreet Singh, was taken into custody following a dawn patrol by prison officials that revealed a carefully planned delivery system. Authorities have also registered a case against two inmates, Satvinder Singh and Ricky, who were allegedly caught retrieving the contraband near the prison's gallows yard.
The 'Gallows' Hidden Cache Discovery
The smuggling scheme was unraveled at approximately 7:15 AM on Sunday when assistant jail superintendent Vijay Kumar and head warder Narinderpal Sharma intercepted the two inmates. Ricky, an inmate facing charges under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, was found with:
- 30 grams of intoxicating powder
- Two keypad mobile phones hidden in his trousers
During interrogation, the inmates confessed that Manpreet Singh would throw prohibited items over the prison walls from the outside, establishing a systematic delivery method.
Buried Contraband and Security Concerns
Acting on the inmates' information, jail authorities excavated a patch of soil near the gallows yard, unearthing 1,400 grams of tobacco that had been buried for later retrieval. The arrest of a Pesco employee—an organization typically comprised of former soldiers hired for high-stakes security positions—has raised serious questions regarding internal surveillance and security protocols at the facility.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
The investigating officer, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Dinesh Kumar, confirmed that a case has been registered at the Division Number 7 police station. The trio faces multiple charges under sections 22, 29, 61, and 85 of the NDPS Act, covering:
- Possession of illegal substances
- Conspiracy to distribute prohibited items
The police investigation is now intensively focusing on whether other staff members were involved in the security breach or if similar caches remain hidden elsewhere on the prison grounds. This incident highlights significant vulnerabilities in prison security systems and raises concerns about contraband circulation within correctional facilities.
