Punjab to convert VIP rooms in jails into management blocks for prison staff: CM Bhagwant Mann

In a video message on his Twitter handle, the chief minister also said that as many as 710 mobile phones had been seized from jailed gangsters.

Published on: May 14, 2022, 13:23:17 IST

By HT News Desk, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday announced some measures, which, he said, will be taken to eradicate ‘VIP culture’ from prisons in the state. “With a view to finish VIP culture, all VIP rooms in jails will be converted into management blocks for prison staff. Concerned officers will be held accountable for any negligence, and strict action will be taken,” Mann said in a video message on his Twitter handle.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also said more than 700 mobile phones had been seized from imprisoned gangsters. “We have recovered 710 mobile phones of gangsters from jail premises. We also acted against those who brought phones inside jails. A special investigation team will probe these cases. FIRs have been registered and some officers suspended,” he announced.

In March, days after the AAP came to power in Punjab, jail minister Harjot Singh Bains made a surprise visit to a central jail in Patiala, acting on a ‘tip-off’ that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia was using a cell phone despite being behind bars.

Also Read | Patiala central jail superintendent transferred after minister’s surprise visit

“I categorically told officials not to give any VIP treatment to any inmate. CM Bhagwant Mann has given me clear instructions take stern action against officials found indulged in any wrongdoing. Whosoever is found inefficient or breaking rules will face the music, be it even ministers or MLAs,” Bains had said to the media after his ‘surprise check’.

Punjab is AAP’s second provincial government, the first being Delhi, where the party’s national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, is the chief minister. Also, this is for the first time that an AAP government has the state police reporting to it. As Delhi is a Union territory, the police there report to the Union home ministry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Home/Cities/Chandigarh News/Punjab To Convert VIP Rooms In Jails Into Management Blocks For Prison Staff: CM Bhagwant Mann