In a sweeping move aimed at cleaning up corruption and dismantling drug syndicates operating from within prisons, the Punjab government on Saturday suspended 25 prison officials, including three Deputy Superintendents and two Assistant Superintendents.
The action follows reports of rampant irregularities and drug-related activities taking place behind bars. The government emphasized that the suspensions are part of a wider campaign to stamp out corruption and criminal operations within the state&rsquo;s correctional facilities.
Earlier this year, authorities had transferred notorious gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria from the high-security Bathinda Central Jail to Silchar Jail in Assam. Officials suspected that imprisoned gangsters, including Bhagwanpuria, were orchestrating drug syndicates from inside Punjab's jails.
Bhagwanpuria, a key figure in the murder conspiracy of singer Sidhu Moosewala and a close associate-turned-rival of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has over 128 FIRs against him. He was arrested in 2015 and has since been held in multiple jails across Punjab.
Considered one of Punjab&rsquo;s most dangerous gangsters after Bishnoi, Bhagwanpuria also faces over five charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly plotting to incite communal unrest.
He is also accused in 15 cases related to arms trafficking and drug smuggling. Upon his transfer to Assam, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) noted that Bhagwanpuria had built international links in countries like Canada, the US, and Pakistan. His relocation was seen as critical to disrupting the operational network sustaining his criminal enterprises. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

Major action targets corruption, gang networks operating from state prisons

Punjab suspends 25 jail staff in drug crackdown

Major action targets corruption, gang networks operating from state prisons

June 28, 2025 | 11:52 IST