Hoshiarpur, July 5: A Deputy Superintendent of the Central Jail in Hoshiarpur has been arrested in connection with the investigation into a purported viral video recorded by a gangster from inside the prison, police said on Sunday.
Harbhajan Singh, posted as Deputy Superintendent at the Central Jail, was arrested by the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Staff during the intervening night of July 4 and 5 in connection with an FIR registered at City Police Station, Hoshiarpur, on June 14.
Police said the officer has been booked under relevant provisions of the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Act, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). However, they did not immediately disclose the specific allegations or evidence that led to his arrest.
The case relates to a purported video that surfaced on social media on June 14, allegedly recorded from inside the Central Jail by gangster Manpreet Singh alias Manna, a resident of Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district, who is lodged in the prison.
In the video, Manpreet alleged harassment by jail staff, demands for money and the availability of narcotics inside the jail. He also accused some prison personnel of assaulting inmates and appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to initiate reforms in the state’s prisons and provide inmates an opportunity for rehabilitation.
Following the circulation of the video, jail authorities ordered an inquiry into the allegations. During the investigation, police recovered a SIM-less mobile phone from Manpreet’s possession inside the jail.
The viral video sparked a political controversy, with opposition parties questioning the functioning of the jail administration and how a gangster lodged in a high-security prison was able to record and circulate the footage. (Agencies)
