KARACHI, June 29: A heavy contingent of the Rangers seized six cell phones in a search operation carried out inside the central jail here on Saturday after leads found during investigation into Wednesday’s bomb attack on Justice Maqbool Baqar of the Sindh High Court.

The jail authorities insisted on calling it a routine operation, but over 200 paramilitary soldiers were deployed to search every nook and corner of the facility during the hours-long exercise.

“It’s a routine operation which was completed successfully,” IG Prisons Nusrat Mangan told reporters. “Some 200 Rangers personnel took part in the operation. They searched every barrack. We have seized six cell phones and other stuff not allowed in prisons.”

He did not explain the participation of Rangers in the operation. On June 18, a search operation by the prison police had led to recovery of nearly 450 cell phones and drugs from prisoners.

“Prison is not a place where someone is investigated. There is a defined mandate for jails. We keep carrying out such operations only to keep checks and maintain jail discipline,” the IG said.

Another worrisome development of late was a twin hand-grenade attack on the central jail that sowed fear in the densely-populated adjoining localities, only days after the authorities decided to shift ‘high-profile’ inmates to other cities.

According to sources, the fresh operation was most probably linked with investigations into the attack on Justice Baqar.

Brief details of the search operation shared by Rangers Col Shafiq Niazi suggested some crucial development related to the case. When specifically asked about the link, he said: ‘Not exactly, but it could be one of the reasons.”

“We conducted the operation along with jail police and administration on directives of the Sindh home department,” the Rangers spokesman said. “There were some clues and findings that led to this operation — the first carried out by the Rangers in the recent past.”

The sources said the police during the investigation had reached the conclusion that one phone call linked to planning of the attack on the judge had originated from the prison.

“The officials suspect one of the six phones found in the prison was used for that call. The phones will be analysed technically and schematically to help set the course of the probe,” they said.