PARADIP: Seizure of two mobile phones and SIM card from the Allipingal jail cell of Congress leader Bapi Sakhel, who has been arrested by Paradip police for SSL Manager Mahendra Swain’s murder, has raised questions of security in the jail. During a surprise check, Jagatsinghpur police reportedly seized high-end mobile phones from his cell on Friday. The searches were conducted on the direction of SP JN Pankaj.
After verification of call records, police suspect breakout of a major a law and order problem in Paradip. Sarkhel’s supporters have been staging agitations for the last few days demanding his unconditional release and police apprehend that they may intensify the agitation.
Earlier this week, police had shifted Sarkhel from Kujang jail to Allipingal jail apprehending law and order situation and possibility of security lapses.
The seizures have again exposed the security lapses in the district’s jails which house notorious gangsters, drug smugglers, Maoists and foreign nationals.
It may be recalled that Jagatsinghpur and Kujang police had raided Allipingal and Kujang sub-jails and seized narcotics, mobile-phones, SIM cards, chargers and scissors in possession of inmates on different occasions in the last four years.
Meanwhile, Paradip police raided the farm house of Managing Director of Odisha Stevedores Limited (OSL) at Nischintakoili, Empires Hotel at Saheed Nagar in Bhubaneswar and his house at Odia Bazaar in Cuttack on Saturday.
Earlier, police had verified the OSL aircraft in Bhubaneswer airport and interrogated its pilot and crew members to investigate into its use in the murder of SSL manager. Police had seized some incriminating document during the raids, said sources.
On the other hand, police have cancelled the firearms and ammunition licence of the MD and his son. A lookout circular has been issued against Mishra in connection with the murder. The OSL chief had moved Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail and challenging the lookout circular.