Telangana DG: Bhatkal getting a mobile is impossible

Telangana Director General (Prisons) V.K. Singh on Saturday said that the call made by Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal was made by an official telephone in the Cherlapally Jail, adding that it is impossible for him to smuggle a mobile phone into the high security prison.

Singh was referring to media reports, which claimed that Bhatkal made calls to his wife via a mobile phone smuggled into the jail. The reports further stated that he had 'hinted' to his wife that he would be out of jail soon, possibly with help from Damascus, which led to speculations of the IM having links to dreaded terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

"To smuggle a mobile phone into the jail is impossible. However, they have the facility to talk to family members via official telephones. Yasin Bhatkal was also granted this facility on the orders of the court. These conversations are all recorded and these recordings are shared with investigative agencies," Singh told ANI in a telephonic interview.

"All these calls are recorded and this is a routine exercise, and all the prisoners are aware of such a procedure. We cannot comment on the call. We have shared all the information with the concerned agencies and they will decide on the issue. This is a high security prison and proper checks are carried out on a routine basis," he added.

Bhatkal had reportedly undertaken training in arms and explosives in Pakistan to launch terror attacks in India. He was on the NIA most wanted list before being arrested at the Indo-Nepal border in 2013.