A Lok Rakshak (contractual city police personnel), Jatin Shrimali, was caught red-handed while trying to smuggle a cellphone, two phone chargers and gutkha sachets into the high security Sabarmati jail premises on Friday afternoon. This is the second such incident in less than a week. On October 18, a clerk-cum-typist in the Central Jail, Ashok Zaphadia, was arrested by the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) of the Ahmedabad police for supplying mobile phones to jail inmates in return of Rs 1,000. During a routine security check near the entrance of the Sabarmati prison, Jailor P K Palat recovered six gutkha sachets from Shrimali's pocket. In extensive searches that followed, Palat found a Nokia 2200 handset hidden in Shrimali's socks and two cellphone chargers hidden in his underwear.On being grilled by the jail authorities, Shrimali broke down and confessed to having attempted this in order to make a fast buck. According to the police, the prohibited items were supposed to be handed over to Arpit Makwana, an under-trial murder accused. Makwana's brother who stays in Khokhra near Amraiwadi had sent these items for the former, the police said. Based on a complaint filed by Palat, the Sabarmati police have registered a case against Shrimali, Makwana and his brother (name not mentioned in the FIR). Inspector K M Joshi of the Sabarmati police said, “Shrimali will be arrested tonight. Action will also be taken against Makwana and his brother.”Lok Rakshaks are people employed by the state police on a contract basis for a monthly remuneration of Rs 2,500.
