Home Minister inspects prison

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra visited the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru on Tuesday, amid several allegations regarding corruption against the jail officials. The prison has been under lens following reports of irregularities and corruption by the officials.

Rowdy-sheeters reportedly enjoyed privileges in their cell and distributed money to the jail staff. Additional Director General of Police (Communication, Logistics, and Modernisation) S Murugan recently filed an inquiry report in this regard last month.

Social media was abuzz after videos and photos of the accused in the murder of Bajrang Dal acivist Harsha using mobile phones in the prison cell. Following the reports, the Home Minister came under attack by Hindutva organisations and activists who alleged that the minister had failed to contain the irregularities inside the Central Prison.

Considering the sensitivity of the issue, Alok Mohan, ADGP of Prisons had shunted out the Central Prison Chief Superintendent Ranganath and six officers working under him. On Tuesday, the minister inquired with the accused and the jail authorities about how the accused managed to get the mobile phone inside the prison.

He also inspected the high risk barracks and asked the jail superintendent if any illegal activities are being carried out in the prison, sources said. Giving an insight about his visit to the prison, the Home Minister said, “I have checked everything inside the Central Jail and have discussed several lapses along with the authorities,” he said.

He said that currently there are 3800 undertrial and 1100 convicts in the prisons. Necessary action will be taken against the officers involved in irregularities, he said. “Based on the reports submitted by the ADGP S Murugan, 15 officers have been suspended from duty,” he said. The minister visited the women’s cell and accessed the information about the various issues faced by the women prisoners there.