In a significant move to tackle the issue of mobile phone usage in correctional homes, the West Bengal government has suspended the Superintendent and Chief Controller of the Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata, the largest such facility in the state. The announcement was made by West Bengal’s Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, during a press conference at the state secretariat of Nabanna.
A recent search operation at the Presidency Central Correctional Home led by the state police team resulted in the recovery and seizure of multiple mobile phones from inmates. Chief Minister Adhikari expressed concern over the prolonged existence of this problem in West Bengal, attributing it to the negligence of the previous administration or possible support from past authorities. As a consequence of the mobile phone recovery, the Superintendent and Chief Controller of the facility have been suspended.
Adhikari emphasized the need for similar operations in other correctional homes across the state to curb criminal activities facilitated by mobile phones from within prison walls. He urged officials at these facilities to fulfill their duties diligently, warning that aiding a crime is as punishable as committing one. The Criminal Investigation Department has been tasked with identifying individuals linked to the recovered mobile phones’ SIM cards.
