Patna: Mobile phones, including that of RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) Lok Sabha member Pappu Yadav, knives, ganja and other prohibited items were seized during simultaneous raids on various Bihar jails conducted on the order of the Patna High Court to crack down jailbirds running their kidnapping and extortion racket from behind bars. The raids, which began within an hour of the court's directive and continued overnight, resulted in recovery of cell phones, chargers, liquor and other prohibited articles, jail department sources said today (Dec 9, 2004).

Bihar Jail Minister Raghvendra Pratap Singh told sources in Patna that he had sought a detailed report on the seizure made during the raids and asserted 'suitable action would be initiated against jail staff found guilty of abetting use of prohibited articles'.

According to a Darbhanga report, during raids conducted under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar, nothing objectionable was found inside but a few packets of contraband ganja, tobacco and cigarette packets were recovered from the jail van parked outside the main gate.

From Khudiram Bose Memorial Central Jail in Muzaffarpur, gutkha, knives, transistors and a cold drink bottle filled with liquor were seized, sources said.

Raids were also conducted in Siwan jail, where controversial RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin is currently lodged, but no banned goods were found, sources said.

During raids on Bhagalpur jail, notorious gangster Bindu Singh, who is alleged to have masterminded the killing of noted surgeon N K Agarwal in the State capital on Diwali night, was thoroughly searched along with other inmates but no prohibited articles were recovered, sources said.

The raid on Chapra divisional jail, which started late in the night and continued till this morning, resulted in recovery of a stove and food items, sources said.

In Bihar-Sharif jail in Nalanda district, two mobile phones and chargers were seized.

In Hajipur, where LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) MLA Rama Singh and his BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) counterpart Nityanand Rai are lodged in judicial custody, a few packets of ganja, used liquor bottles and a mobile phone chargers were recovered.

The two MLAs were, however, not present during the raid as they were attending the assembly session in Patna.

Raids were also conducted in jails at Buxar, Madhepura, Samastipur, Jehanabad, Munger, Purnea and other districts but nothing objectionable was recovered, sources said.

The jail Minister said that raids would be conducted frequently in the prisons to check use of prohibited items, including mobile phones.

The Minister, Raghvendra Pratap Singh, said the sentries on duty at the Beur jail in the capital were subjected to surprise frisking today as part of efforts by the prison administration to check the activities of jailed criminals.

The Patna high court had yesterday (Dec 8, 2004) ordered the State Government to launch a thorough search of jails across Bihar under the supervision of respective district judiciary to check the kidnapping and extortion racket of criminals operating from behind the bars.