Former Home Minister and Tirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra has criticised the government of Karnataka about videos showing inmates of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru using mobile phones and other facilities.
In a press conference in Shivamogga on November 10, Mr. Jnanendra said that during his term as Home Minister, he had taken stern action against officials responsible for lapses. “We transferred officials who had been working in the prison for several years. However, now they have come back to the same place. This shows how serious the government is on this issue,” he commented.
“A person accused of terrorist activities and another person convicted for serial murders have been enjoying facilities in the prison. How can a serial killer get a colour television set in his barrack? For some people, the jail has become a rest house,” he remarked.
The BJP leader commented that law and order had collapsed in Karnataka. The leaked videos showed that prisons are no more reform centres. Instead, they had become centres to allow criminals to continue with their criminal acts.
He urged the State Government to take stern action and ensure prisoners do not enjoy facilitate that they are not entitled to.
Shivamogga Lok Sabha member B.Y. Raghavendra, legislators S.N. Channabasappa, Dr. Dhananjay Sarji and others were present.