SARGODHA, May 21: The Cantonment police have absolved during a preliminary investigation the Sargodha district jail visitors — six men and three women — of providing arms and a mobile set to a hardened criminal. Investigation Officer Sher Bahadur claims that he has found no evidence of the involvement of the visitors, nominated by the jail superintendent, in the case.

A spokesman of the Cantonment police told Dawn on Saturday that the material so far collected from the captive’s possession was not provided by the nominated visitors. He, however, said the evidence suggested the involvement of the jail employees in the incident.

He claimed that a cellular phone was in the use of Muhammad Kurar for the last three to four months.

He said Azam was involved in almost three dozen cases of dacoity, murder, rape and kidnap for ransom. He had twice escaped the police custody and his trial was ordered at the jail.

The policeman said there was no risk of the visitors’ carrying anything prohibited in the jail because of a thorough checking process. He, however, claimed that some black sheep in the jail allowed an inmate to meet anyone after receiving Rs200 to Rs500.

Meanwhile, the investigation officer told this correspondent that the officials suspended from service had no role in the incident.

However, he said, he had conducted a raid for the arrest of Azam’s wife but to no avail.