Close watch on extradited Romi to keep him safe

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 24

From a special cell and a “secured zone” with 24-hours surveillance, the Prisons Department is not taking any chances when it comes to Ramanjit Singh Romi, 34, who is considered as a vital link between the gangsters and terrorists. With Romi facing threat from rival gangs, the jail authorities have devised a foolproof strategy to keep him safe.

Senior officials said, “Romi faces serious threat to his life. Arrangements were already in place to lodge him at the New District Jail, Nabha, after his extradition.”

“Given the threat perception, Romi will not be lodged or allowed to intermingle with inmates who have hardcore criminal record. Even his meals will be monitored and delivered to him by the jail officials. His movement, both inside and outside his cell, will be secured,” said an official privy to the matter.

Romi was handed over to the jail authorities in the wee hours of Friday after a local court sent him to 14-day judicial custody. The police officials said Romi was the key conspirator in the Nabha jailbreak in which six hardcore criminals, including two terrorists, managed to escape.

IG Prisons Roop Kumar Arora said for high-risk prisoners like Romi, there’s a standard operating procedure, which needs to be followed. “He is lodged in the specially created high-security zone inside the Nabha jail. A special team of jail officials and CCTV cameras will keep a watch on Romi round-the-clock, said Arora.

Sources in the Police Department confirmed that a six-member team, which went to Hong Kong, was responsible for his safety till he’s lodged in the jail.

As per the Hong Kong court, Romi cannot be questioned in two cases already registered against him, therefore “he should be shifted straight to the jail”.

AIG Harvinder Virk told The Tribune, “We have handed over his custody to the jail officials following his medical check-up, as per the orders issued by John KC Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”

“As per the treaty, Romi cannot be questioned in two cases already registered in Punjab. Thus, he was sent to the judicial custody. At present, our focus is to ensure that he gets maximum punishment in the Nabha jailbreak case,” he added.

An IPS official confirmed that recent probe in some cases reveal that Romi was the point man for coordination between the gangsters and terrorists. “Romi was the “communication link” between the gangsters and ISI-backed terrorists. He was in touch with them through VoIP platforms,” he stated.

2016 Nabha jailbreak case

• On November 27, 2016, gangsters in the police uniform reached the Nabha jail in two vehicles
• They asked the jail staff to open the gate as they had a convict with them
• As soon as the gate was opened, they took sentries hostage and fired 20 shots
• The gangsters managed to free six inmates, including four gangsters and two terrorists