Bengaluru police spokesperson details major shake‑ups after illegal items burst into the central prison
KARTHI, Karnataka – Karnataka’s Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Monday that the state is kicking its jail system into high gear after a scandal involving illegal goods at Bengaluru Central Prison. The minister announced that the top jail officer, Chief Superintendent K. Suresh, has been transferred immediately. The Immediate Superintendent Magery and Assistant Superintendent Ashok Bhajantri were put on suspension as the investigation moves forward.
The Home Minister told reporters that the incident, which saw contraband slip into a prison that holds roughly 5,000 inmates, prompted a wider audit. A one‑month High‑Power Committee will review all state prisons, from Parappana Agrahara to the city’s central jail. The committee, headed by ADGP (Law and Order) Hitendra, will focus on everything from CCTV gaps to staff transfers and will announce its findings publicly.
Parameshwara also revealed key reforms. For the first time, an IPS officer will take the chief role at Parappana Agrahara, and future posts will always be filled by IPS officers. He said the DG or ADGP (Prisons) will oversee a new command centre that will monitor every jail’s CCTV feeds in real time. The state has already released Rs 2 crore to expand security cameras and Rs 15 crore for ten new towers.
A fresh recruitment push will add 197 warders, 22 instructors, 3 assistant superintendents, and 983 support staff to the jail’s workforce. The government will also transfer officers who have served a single post for five years to keep the system dynamic.
To curb phone smuggling, mobile jammers will be tightened to stay strictly inside prison “shadow areas.” Baggage scanners and other security gear will double in number.
“Whoever was on duty when contraband was smuggled in will be held accountable,” Parameshwara urged. “No old incident can be an excuse.” He added that senior officers must keep close contact with headquarters and conduct regular inspections. District Collectors and SPs are now required to visit prisons and submit detailed reports.
The committee’s report will shape the next steps, and the Home Department will use it, along with an NIA report on prison safety, to take decisive action. Parameshwara promised full transparency once the findings are released.
The meeting that led to these announcements drew senior officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Tushar Girinath, DGP M.A. Saleem, and police commissioner B. Dayanand. The state’s plan is to overhaul its jail system, enhance security, and prevent future illegal incidents.
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Source: ianslive
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