Colvale jail eyes advanced technology to block illegal use of mobile phones

Panaji: The prisons department is exploring two technologies to curb unauthorised use of mobile phones by inmates at Colvale central jail — mobile jammers and advanced systems such as the tower-harmonious call blocking system (T-HCBS).

The department has roped in public sector firms Bharat Electronics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited, along with the department of telecommunications, to suggest solutions.

Surveys are under way to identify the most effective technology.

“All the surveys will be completed by April 10, after which a detailed proposal with recommendations and costs will be submitted to govt,” said inspector general of prisons KR Chaurasia.

Chaurasia said BEL has assessed the likely impact of phone jammers on signal transmission.

ECIL will carry out a similar study, while DoT will examine the feasibility of T-HCBS in the jail. The selected system must effectively block signals in the jail without affecting nearby residents.

Recently, the Bombay high court directed jail authorities to install robust phone jammers or cellular inspection systems and CCTV cameras at inmate entry points.

It also ordered removal of charging points and an inquiry into how they were installed inside the premises.

“This court fails to understand as to how the mobile phones can be so easily slipped in, when the jail authorities do conduct regular inspections. Is it that the inspection is superficial and just an eye wash or that a deliberate slack inspection is done at the entry point so that the mobile phones find their way inside the jail premises seamlessly? Some accountability has to be fixed. The jail authorities cannot be permitted to be oblivious to such incidents happening at regular intervals,” the court said.