FARIDKOT, APRIL 26 — Authorities at the high-security Faridkot Modern Jail recovered 14 mobile phones on Saturday night and nine on Friday, further revealing persistent gaps in the facility’s security infrastructure. The devices were found abandoned in various barracks during a large-scale search operation, contributing to a total of over 500 mobile seizures recorded at the prison over the past 12 months.
A senior district police official stated that the frequency of these discoveries suggests that mobile access is nearly universal among the inmate population. He noted that the facility is currently facing a significant overcrowding crisis, as it houses approximately 2,700 inmates despite a sanctioned capacity of only 2,000. This population includes high-profile gangsters and drug smugglers who are allegedly managing criminal networks from within the prison walls.
The official maintained that the influx of contraband is largely facilitated by the “fanka” method, where packets are thrown over the perimeter walls, as well as the suspected cooperation of certain jail staff. Prison administrators have affirmed that a chronic shortage of personnel makes it difficult to maintain constant surveillance over a population of this size.
The jail administration has submitted formal complaints and transferred the seized devices to the cyber cell for call log analysis. Police officials affirmed that the volume of contraband underscores a systemic challenge, highlighting the need for enhanced security measures and increased staffing to disrupt communication networks used by incarcerated individuals.
