Wires, coils, nails: Prison inmates' clandestine efforts to make heaters in Delhi's harsh winter

PRISON OFFICIALS SAY INMATES ARE USING THESE ITEMS TO MAKE ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT TO HEAT WATER, FOOD OR LIGHT FIRES

- Jignasa Sinha

As the Capital reels under biting cold conditions, Delhi prisons officials have suddenly recorded a spike in the recovery of metallic items—wires, coils, nails—from inmates. The department shared that in the last two months, they seized seven mobile phones in Tihar, while they recovered 33 bundles of electric wires during the same period.

In normal times, the seizure of these sharp objects would suggest that prisoners are hoarding up on weapons, and would point to an impending gang war in jail. This winter, however, prison officials say that inmates are using these items to make improvised electric equipment to heat water, food or light fires.