Bengaluru: The Karnataka authorities Monday introduced that the central jail shall be dealt with by an IPS officer, whereas suspending two jail officers and transferring one other official after movies of inmates utilizing cell telephones and reveling within the jail premises resurfaced final week, resulting in a political storm within the state.

The newly viral movies allegedly present infamous inmates, together with serial rapist Umesh Reddy and suspected ISIS recruiter Juhad Hameed Shakeel Manna, speaking over smartphones and receiving different preferential remedy in Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara central jail.

The state Opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP), then again, hit the streets in Bengaluru, alleging that the Siddaramaiah-led Congress authorities was “appeasing terrorists” in jail.

“Royal hospitality is being prolonged to terrorists who intention to divide the nation and kill Hindus,” Karnataka Chief of Opposition R. Ashoka advised reporters Monday.

A high-powered probe committee, headed by R. Hitendra, ADGP (Regulation & Order), will now look into the movies, considered one of which reveals Manna sipping tea, scrolling by means of a cellphone, and chatting with the particular person recording his video.

4 years in the past, Manna, a pc purposes specialist, with not less than one different particular person, was arrested on suspicion of getting despatched practically half a dozen children from Bengaluru to Syria between 2013 and 2014 to affix ISIS, experiences The Indian Specific.

One other video that has added gas to the fireplace is of convicted serial rapist Umesh Reddy, utilizing a number of cell phones, whereas a filmy tune performs on the TV.

These movies couldn’t be independently verified by ThePrint.

In keeping with the house division and senior police personnel, some movies have been allegedly shot two years in the past. However Parameshwara acknowledged that such incidents had been reported extra just lately.

Over the previous few years, there was an increase in incidents of prisoners receiving particular privileges at Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara central jail, prompting considerations in regards to the adequacy of security measures to forestall such practices.

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‘Command centre’

In October this 12 months, Gubacchi Seena, an alleged prison concerned in homicide and dacoity circumstances, was seen celebrating his birthday, surrounded by associates and associates, chopping a cake with a machete in grand fashion contained in the jail. A garland of apples was additionally bestowed on him.

In August 2024, Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, the principle accused in a homicide case, was seen stress-free open air, sipping espresso, smoking a cigarette, and even waving throughout a video name.

In July 2017, allegations that Sasikala, former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalitha’s aide, paid crores of rupees for her comforts in jail, together with a separate kitchen, servants, and the liberty to maneuver out and in, had unfold.

The then-deputy inspector basic (DIG) of prisons, D. Roopa, submitted a report bringing widespread corruption, drug abuse, mismanagement, and prisoners’ unregulated motion, threats, and assault of medical workers to power them to offer beneficial experiences, amongst different such critical costs, to the fore.

Karnataka Residence Minister G. Parameshwara stated that over 1,000 CCTVs are put in throughout all prisons within the state, and their feed will now be shared with a central command centre within the state jail headquarters.

Parameshwara added that throughout the subsequent 15 days, a tech audit can be carried out, and the command centre can be arrange in Bengaluru.

To interrupt the nexus between police and inmates, the house minister additionally stated that each one officers who had served for greater than 5 years in a jail can be moved out instantly.

Parameshwara added that the variety of baggage scanners, cellphone jammers, and different gear would even be doubled to make it tougher to smuggle cell phones, weapons, and different contraband into the jail. The house minister himself would search the supply of the movies from journalists, he stated, underlining that any such info ought to be voluntary.

There are about 5,000 inmates in Parappana Agrahara jail, comprising each undertrials and convicts. This, based on the house minister, elevated the probabilities of violations, proposing the 2 classes to be housed individually any longer.

The house minister additionally stated that approval had already been given to recruit 197 wardens, 22 instructors, and three assistant superintendents. Approval can also be awaited to rent 983 wardens and 17 jailers, he added.

‘Jail or nightclub?’

“When the cooker bomb blast occurred, they referred to as them ‘brother’. They even served biryani to those that shouted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. The Congress is not directly supporting terrorists. Regardless of spending Rs 5 crore to put in a whole lot of CCTV cameras in jails, they’ve been turned off,” LoP R. Ashoka stated Monday, squarely blaming the Siddaramaiah-led authorities.

“Bombs, meat, marijuana, mobiles” have been being smuggled inside prisons with out being detected, whereas the intelligence division remained clueless, he alleged.

“Prisoners are utilizing mobiles to blackmail and earn cash…Police are cooperating on this. The Congress authorities has set terrorists free. Similar to ensures, royal hospitality in jail is being supplied without spending a dime,” Ashoka added.

BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra, then again, stated that the central jail had become a “nightclub”.

The BJP has demanded that the Nationwide Investigation Company (NIA) ought to look into the matter since a terror accused was additionally concerned within the alleged violations, with the matter now falling outdoors the jurisdiction of the state authorities, based on the social gathering. In the meantime, the social gathering intends to go forth with protests and a plan to put siege to the chief minister’s residence Tuesday.

“Take motion now. Take away the Jail Supt. Now. Why will do? Ship the message of zero tolerance,” Kiran Bedi, former IPS officer and Lt Governor of Puducherry, stated in her touch upon the incident.

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)

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