PESCO staffer smuggles drugs, mobile phone into prison, held

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 22

The Central Jail authorities have nabbed a Punjab Ex-Serviceman Corporation (PESCO) employee while trying to sneak drugs and a mobile phone into the complex.

He has been identified as Harbhej Singh. Jail officials seized 35-gm heroin besides Rs 10,000 in cash and a mobile phone from him during a search. A preliminary investigation revealed that he was going to deliver the drug to Ali, a resident of Gwal Mandi area who has been lodged inside the jail.

Sources in the Central Jail said Ali lured Harbhej Singh into bringing in drug consignment by promising a payment of Rs 10,000. He got the heroin from one Amarjit outside the jail. The police have registered a case under the NDPS Act and the Prisons Act against Harbhej and Ali.

According to information, the police are scrutinising the call details of Harbhej Singh to know whom he got the drug from. More names are likely to surface during the further course of investigation, the police said.

An official, requesting anonymity, said the jail staff strength had been decreased as many of them were shifted to Covid jails where infected prisoners from different jails were kept.