The Tribune, January 24, 2002

Prisoners searched to trace anonymous caller
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, January 23
Prisoners lodged in various barracks of the district jail here were subjected to searches by the jail authorities last night on the instructions of the Superintendent of Police, Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat. However, the authorities failed to recover any mobile phone or other objectionable articles from any of the prisoners. According to a report, the sudden decision to search all prisoners followed an anonymous call received by the owner of a petrol station on the Gohana road threatening him with dire consequences if he failed to pay Rs 50 lakh as extortion money at a place mentioned by him immediately. The caller had said that he was speaking from the district jail and had warned him that if he informed the police about the call, he will be killed.

The owner of the petrol pump, it is stated, did not inform the police about it first because of fear. However, on being pressurised by family members and other traders, he later lodged a written complaint with the SP in this regard.

Soon after receiving the complaint, the SP swung into action and asked the jail authorities to make an individual search of all the prisoners and take precautionary measures if anyone is found in possession of a mobile telephone or any other objectionable articles.

In the recent past, a number of businessmen and industrialists of the city and its suburbs had received similar threatening calls from unknown criminals and anti-social elements asking for extortion money. This has caused panic among traders, businessmen and the entrepreneurs of the area. Meanwhile, the SP has maintained that the police are taking steps to deal with the criminals and anti-social elements sternly and hence there is no cause for panic.