To prevent illegal cell phone use, 21 third-generation (5G) jammers were installed in 10 sub-jails of the Tihar prison complex; Abschek Sharan reports.

New GPS jammer, which use 5G electromagnetic signals, and 11 jammers manufactured in recent years are expected to improve the prison's ability to block cellphones, prison sources said.

According to the source, "5G jammers will improve our capabilities as the first WiFi jammers can only block communications with second-generation signals." The source said second-generation (4G) jammers can only block up to 50 meters. . Mobile phones are vulnerable to attacks from the improved 3G technology.

The Delhi High Court in July last year ordered authorities to set up 21 jammers in Tihar to screen cellphone use.

The source said the 5G wearable jammer was installed with wires designed to "prevent tampering". The price of each 5G jammer is not cheap.

Tihar spokesman Sunil Gupta said: "The installation of 21 new types of 5G signal jammer will prevent prisoners from using cellphones and smuggling cellphones," Gupta said.

Increasing the number of mobile jammers will strengthen the prison's ability to stop normal suspects (power criminals) from using cell phones. “The 21 saboteurs will be housed near high-security cells and dormitories to house prisoners accused of serious crimes, including prisoners linked to terrorism and drug trafficking. Sources say they are more likely to try using cell phones.

First time offenders usually try to follow prison rules.

Each heavily guarded area houses prisoners who have committed serious crimes such as sedition, terrorism, organized crime and drugs. Among them was Mohammed Afzal Guru, the person convicted in the 2001 attack on Parliament.