Ludhiana: The city police seem to be stuck in airplane mode. Despite seizing a steady stream of illegal mobiles from Central Jail — 26 since mid-Oct — investigators say they simply lack the manpower to “connect” the dots. With 196 phones sent for forensic checks since last year, most data remains unread, leaving the jail’s criminal call log in silent mode.An ongoing surge in illegal mobile phone recoveries at Ludhiana Central Jail, coupled with inmates’ links to serious crimes, hasn’t been contained despite a high-profile escape on Oct 14. This crisis occurs amidst recent police crackdowns that have exposed inter-jail rackets involving weapons smuggling, drug distribution, and extortion, often orchestrated by inmates using illegally acquired phones.Investigation BottleneckThe police are currently unable to conduct the crucial cyber forensic investigation necessary to dismantle these networks. The police had committed to a thorough forensic examination of all recovered mobiles following an embarrassing “tea-pakora” birthday video in Dec 2023, which went viral and exposed widespread mobile use inside the facility.Data gathered from the Ludhiana police commissionerate suggests that 196 mobiles have been sent to the local cyber forensic laboratory since Dec 2023. Data from 140 mobile phones was collected successfully and returned to the Division Number 7 police station, where jail recovery cases are registered.The SnagAdditional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP-headquarters) Vaibhav Sehgal confirmed that the investigation into these cases had stalled. He explained that examining the data from even a single device — which was retrieved in multiple, complex folders — required “days” and could not be done by officers burdened with “routine work” and insufficient staffing. Tossing ConspiracyThe police probe aims to go beyond the usual explanation that mobile phones are “tossed” over the jail walls. The investigation sought to trace every person involved — from those who purchased the phone and SIM card to those who facilitated its entry — and, critically, how the “tossed” mobile reached the correct intended inmate. The failure to analyse the data prevents authorities concerned from reaching these conspirators.The data could reveal who’s tossing phones, who’s paying for them, and who’s calling the shots from inside. For now, the city’s most wanted connections remain out of network. While inmates keep dialing into crime, Ludhiana Police can’t seem to pick up. MSID:: 125275990 413 |
