27 mobiles and banned items seized as unclaimed from jail
Ferozepur, October 29, 2025 — In a major crackdown on contraband smuggling, jail authorities at Ferozepur recovered 27 mobile phones and a host of other banned items during a surprise search operation conducted between October 19 and 25. The raid, led by the Jail Superintendent and staff teams, uncovered 15 keypad and 12 touchscreen mobile phones of various brands, all equipped with batteries and SIM cards. The total recovery during the current year as on date including the recent recovery is 562 mobiles besides other prohibited items.
In addition to the phones, officials seized 5 data cables, 1 adaptor, 1 battery, 1 earphone, 159 pouches of tobacco (zarda), and 2 packets of cigarettes. All items were classified as untaken, indicating they were unclaimed and illegally possessed within the jail premises.
The scale of the recovery has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the prison’s three-layer security system. Recurring incidents of mobile phone smuggling have prompted scrutiny of existing protocols and entry-point checks.
A case under Sections 42 and 52-A of the Prisons Act has been registered against an unidentified individual, with the investigation entrusted to Sharma Singh, Investigating Officer. The jail administration has launched further inquiries to identify inmates involved in the smuggling and use of these prohibited items.
Officials emphasized that such surprise inspections will continue as part of efforts to curb illegal activities and reinforce discipline within the prison.