Jodhpur: Prison authorities at Jodhpur Central Jail recovered 13 mobile phones and 11 SIM cards in an early morning search Sunday after photos and videos of an Iftar gathering inside the jail surfaced on social media.The seizure occurred hours after Ladakh climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was released from Jodhpur Central Jail on Saturday. The images were recorded by an inmate on a mobile phone and circulated online, prompting prison officials to launch an investigation and carry out a search. Authorities recovered 13 mobile phones — seven Android smartphones and four keypad phones — along with 11 SIM cards.Of the 13 phones, 11 were found hidden at different locations inside the barracks, while two were recovered directly from inmates, including one from an inmate seen in the viral photo.Officials said the devices were concealed in prison toilets, beneath the floor and inside drainage outlets.Jail superintendent Pradeep Lakhawat said the Iftar gathering was organised on March 13 in a single barrack following directions from headquarters allowing inmates to hold Iftar. However, an inmate allegedly uploaded videos and photos of the event on social media.Based on the viral images, prison authorities identified inmates seen in the footage and conducted the search, leading to the recovery of the phones and SIM cards.Lakhawat said an FIR had been filed against five inmates seen in the viral photo at Ratnada police station, and a detailed inquiry had been launched into how the banned devices entered the prison. Further investigation into the case is ongoing.
