Tech for tech: Illegal phones are now mute in Bhondsi jail
Gurgaon: The days of gangsters running their criminal empires from behind the bars at Bhondsi jail are numbered. For, authorities at the facility have armed themselves with a phone detection system that leaves no stone — or the jail's concrete walls — unturned.
At the centre of this detection system is the '
Non-Linear Junction Device
' (NLJD) — an equipment that can sniff out electronic devices whether they're powered on or off, closing a crucial security loophole that inmates previously exploited.
Complementing the NLJD is a deep earth metal detector capable of discovering gadgets buried up to three feet below the ground or concealed within walls. Consequently, the jail — which accommodates around 3,000 inmates — has turned into a fortress against digital contraband.
The impact has been immediate and striking. According to police records, extortion calls to businessmen and influential people from within the prison's walls have plummeted to zero in recent months.
This represents a turnaround from 2019, when the recovery of mobile phones from inmates, criminals operating their gangs and making threat calls from the premises made headlines almost every other day. It was the same year when dreaded gangster Kaushal revealed that during his stay in Dubai, he stayed in touch with his aide Amit Dagar — lodged in Bhondsi jail — over phone.
Many businessmen reported receiving extortion threats from gangsters who were behind the bars at this facility.
Senior jail superintendent Naresh Goyal said jammers were installed on the premises following the increasing complaints, but they were unable to keep pace with 4G and 5G upgrades by telecom companies. The jail authorities soon realised that blocking the mobile frequency wouldn't help. They needed to detect the phones and other electronic devices that help with communication.
"NLJD is the most effective device in such cases. These advanced detection systems have significantly enhanced our ability to maintain security inside the jail. Previously, inmates would go to great lengths to hide their phones. But now, there's virtually nowhere to conceal them," Goyal told TOI.
Regular security sweeps have made the system more effective. Jail officials said they conducted random checks, and an entire barrack was examined once or twice a week.
"The equipment is used daily. Random checks ensure that no barrack goes uninspected for long. This systematic approach has created an environment where attempting to smuggle or hide electronic devices has become increasingly futile," Goyal said.
But Bhondsi jail's technological transformation has extended beyond detecting equipment. The authorities have also installed 50 video conferencing facilities, which has significantly brought down the need to transport hundreds of prisoners for court hearings daily. This
virtual court system
has not just enhanced security but also streamlined the judicial process, effectively closing another potential avenue for contraband smuggling.
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