Bengaluru, Nov 10 (PTI) Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday announced the formation of a committee led by Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) R Hitendra to probe the lapses in Bengaluru central jail here.
The announcement comes after videos surfaced purportedly showing inmates having access to smartphones and television sets in the central prison and them having smartphones, including a terror suspect, who is allegedly an ISIS recruiter, serial rapist Umesh Reddy and a gold smuggler.
The committee includes Inspector General of Police Sandeep Patil and Superintendents of Police Amaranath Reddy and C B Rishyanth as members, Parameshwara told reporters after a high-level meeting with senior police officers.
Further, the Deputy Commissioners and the Superintendents of Police of respective districts where major prisons are located in the state will serve as co-members of the panel, he said.
The minister also announced transferring Chief Superintendent of Bengaluru Prison K Suresha, and the suspension of Superintendent Imamsab Myageri and Assistant Superintendent Ashok Bhajantri.
Briefing reporters, Parameshwara said, "It has been decided that from now on an IPS officer will be in charge of Parappana Agrahara Jail (Bengaluru)."
He added that a command centre will be set up in Bengaluru, connecting all the CCTV cameras in the jail.
Directions have been given to procure baggage scanner, the minister said, adding Rs 2.5 crore has been sanctioned in the Cabinet meeting for Close Circuit camera and Rs 15 crore for 10 towers.
"I have told them to immediately call tenders for it. Also, I have given directions that any officer who has served five years in one place should be transferred to other locations," Parameshwara said.
The government ordered the appointment of Superintendent of Police rank IPS officer Anshu Kumar as the Chief Superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison following the transfer of Suresha.
"The post of Chief Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara, Bengaluru is declared equivalent in status and responsibilities to the cadre post of Superintendent of Police, Mandya," the order said.
Meanwhile, the BJP on Monday staged a demonstration demanding resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the lapses in Bengaluru jail.
The opposition leaders were taken into preventive custody when they were marching to lay siege to Siddaramaiah's office residence.
The party has also sought a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the incident, calling it a "serious security lapse".
The party leaders, including BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, Leaders of the Opposition in the Assembly and Council R Ashoka and N Chaluvaraya Swamy respectively were later taken into preventive custody at Shivananda Circle during their march towards the Chief Minister's office residence 'Krishna' in the city. The party members were seen holding placards and posters.
Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra claimed that the royal treatment given to the prisoners indicates rampant corruption in the prison department and the nexus between jail officials and criminals.
Alleging that the government has "died" in Karnataka, Ashoka said only an NIA probe will unravel the truth.
Later, Ashoka posted in ‘X’ saying Karnataka prisons are turning into sleeper cells. Accused and under-trial terror suspects are allegedly using mobile phones, encrypted apps and digital networks from inside high-security jails. This is not a routine lapse but a direct national security threat.
"Today, I wrote to the the Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji requesting immediate NIA probe, national-level intelligence audit, central surveillance in high-risk prisons and strict action against officials enabling such access," he said.
If prisons become operational bases for extremists, the danger extends far beyond Karnataka, Ashoka wrote adding Central intervention is urgently needed to protect India’s internal security.
Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the government has taken serious note of reports about illegal activities in state prisons and warned that such lapses will not be tolerated.