Correctional homes to punish inmates if wireless communication devices are found in their possession

Kolkata: An inmate of a correctional home shall be punished with imprisonment for a period which may extend to three years or with fine or both if found guilty of possessing mobile phones or its components. This is as per the West Bengal Correctional Services (Amendment) Act 2018.

As per the new law, "…if any prisoner in a correctional home is found guilty of possessing, operating or using any wireless communication device or its components like SIM card, memory card, battery or charger or any other component of such device or if the prisoner willfully participates or connives entry into or dispatch from the correctional home or instigates the supply thereof, he shall be punished with imprisonment for a period which may extend to three years or with fine or with both."

The wireless communication device includes mobile phone, wi-fi for personal computer, tablet, personal computer, computer, laptop, palmtop and their use for communication like the Internet, GRPS, email, SMS, MMS or any such device available for similar purposes.

If the prisoner is found using the wireless communication device for attempting abetting, conspiring or committing an offence inside or outside the correctional home and as a consequence thereof an offence is committed, he shall be punished with imprisonment provided in the Indian Penal Code, 1860, for the offence so committed.

It may be mentioned that incidents of the use of mobile phones in correctional homes will get checked with the amendment in the Act and it has been stated in a notification that the Act shall come into force on Thursday.