The Punjab Police has suspended seven jail officials for dereliction of duty and connivance with gangsters in connection with a video leak case.
Five of the seven officials have been arrested, including a superintendent of the Goindwal Sahib Central Jail, according to a press release on Sunday, 5 March.
The move comes after two inmates, identified as Mandeep Singh alias Toofan of Batala and Mohna alias Manmohan Singh of Budhlada, were allegedly killed by fellow inmates during a clash in the jail on 26 February 2023.
Later, a purported video from Goindwal Sahib Central Jail went viral on Sunday, in which Moosewala murder accused Sachin Bhiwani and his associates were seen talking about the incident.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stressed that stern action will be taken against anyone who is found to be involved in any irregularities.
Addressing a press conference, Inspector General (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said that CM Mann has directed state police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
"While successive governments have patronised gangsters and mafia, the AAP government has cracked down on it, and the state will be made free of it soon," an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson said.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)