Phones, Wi-Fi gear and cash found in cell of American Centre attack convict
Three phones, Wi-Fi routers and ₹31,000 cash were seized from the cell of 2002 American Centre attack mastermind Aftab Ahmed Ansari at Presidency Correctional Home.
A surprise search at Kolkata's Presidency Correctional Home has led to the recovery of three mobile phones, Wi-Fi equipment and ₹31,000 in cash from the cell of Aftab Ahmed Ansari, the convicted mastermind of the 2002 American Centre attack.
The seizure took place on Saturday following specific intelligence inputs that Ansari was allegedly using a mobile phone and accessing the internet from inside the prison. A senior correctional home official said the devices were hidden in his clothes and bedding.
Along with the three handsets, officials recovered two routers, a Wi-Fi device, a pen drive and an earphone from the cell. Cash amounting to ₹31,000, in ₹500 notes, was also found during the search.
Ansari, who is serving a life sentence in connection with the American Centre attack case, occupies cell number 14 at the correctional home. Following the recovery, jail authorities lodged a complaint with the Hastings Police Station, which has registered a case and initiated an investigation.
Investigators are now probing whether Ansari had been in contact with individuals outside the country using the seized devices. The development has raised serious questions about prison security protocols and the monitoring of high-profile convicts.