LAHORE, March 16: The Punjab home secretary on Friday suspended 13 officials of Jhelum district jail from service after recovery of a large number of cell phones and accessories from inmates.

A jail official told Dawn that a special search squad comprising two DIGs, 10 assistant superintendents of jail and 100 warders conducted a surprised pre-dawn raid at the jail on Sunday last, searched luggage of all inmates and seized 31 cell phones, 15 cell phone SIMS and 22 chargers.

He said squad officials conducted thorough search and sweeping by removing the luggage outside barracks.

He said the squad reported the matter to Punjab IG Prisons Main Farooq Nazir who submitted a detailed report to the home secretary.

Jhelum district Jail Superintendent Raza Mehmood Zaman, Deputy Superintendent Chaudhry Muhammad Ayyub, three ASJs, four head warders and as many warders were among the suspended officials.

The official said the search squad had been recently constituted to conduct surprise raids after jailers failed to heed to warnings issued by the authorities to purge jails of cell phones which were adversely affecting the jail atmosphere and breeding crime in the society.

He said the IG prisons issued his final warning to the jailers a week ago and after receiving complaints finally ordered the squad to come into action.

Prisons IG, when contacted, said the squad would conduct targeted surprise search operations weekly, fortnightly and monthly to eliminate cell phone culture from jails and from now on the regional DIGs would also be held responsible.

He said the squad, which existed at the Inspectorate of Prisons, would also check narcotics and prohibited articles along with cell phones.