Mobile phone jammers to be installed in UP prisons

Lucknow, Sep 7 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to install mobile phone jammers in 12 sensitive jails in the state, Prisons Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia said on Wednesday.

During raids, besides many contraband items, the officials have seized mobile phones and SIM cards from jail inmates. Therefore, the state has sanctioned Rs 71.29 crore for installing mobile phone jammers in 12 prisons, an official said.

The decision was taken following complaints by intelligence department and the Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh regarding illegal use of cell phones by criminals inside prisons.

The 12 sensitive jails where heavy duty cell phone jammers would be installed include Firozabad, Aligarh, Etawah, Bulandshahr, Banda, Mainpuri, Moradabad, Jaunpur and Ballia along with central jail Bareilly.