Notwithstanding a crackdown on mobile phones in jails, an inmate of Faridkot jail has uploaded a video on Facebook threatening to kill Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh besides senior police officers.
A government spokesperson said an inquiry has established that the inmate identified as Gobind, an under-trial in several criminal cases, including murder, had uploaded the video from within the jail premises.
A Samsung phone has been recovered from him.
In the video, Govind, who hails from village Mari Bhaini, Faridkot, also charged Amarinder Singh for making a false pledge in a Bathinda rally to end the drug menace in Punjab before the Vidhan Sabha elections.
“You (CM) should go to the Golden Temple and apologise for taking a false pledge. Drugs are rampant in Punjab. They are readily available everywhere and my brothers and sisters are falling prey to drugs,” Govind says in the video.
The inmate further said he had to send out the message through Facebook as he didn’t have the phone numbers of the CM or DGP. “Otherwise, I would have called them directly,” he says. Gobind then goes on to rant about the lack of facilities and water scarcity in the jail. “Baba Farid society of Faridkot must provide water supply for inmates if they see this video,” Govind says.
Stating that the gurudwara in the jail premises had limited arrangements, Gobind asked Amarinder to visit the place himself to take a stock of the condition. “There needs to be a bed for Guru Granth Sahib and flooring needs to be done. A langar should also be organised inside the jail,” he asserts.
Faridkot SSP Dr Nanak Singh said police was inquiring as to how internet facility was available inside the jail along with the mobile phone. Gobind has three cases against him, including a murder and another of attempt to murder, while Kuldeep Singh has an NDPS case against him. Both have been booked under 42 and 52A of Prison Act, confirmed SSP Faridkot.
The video was uploaded yesterday but was noticed today. Another inmate, Kuldeep Singh, would also be booked.
Gobind Singh, age 30/32 years, of village Bheni of Bathinda district had been living at Jaito in a rented house for the past 15 years.
