Dire consequences if inhuman treatment to prisoners proved: NHRC
- The NHRC has issued notices to the DGP & IG Prisons, Karnataka over allegations of inhuman treatment to 32 prisoners
- Notice stated that the prisoners were beaten black and blue and shifted overnight to other jails
- If the allegations are found to be true, it will be the violation of prisoners' Right to Life and Dignity
FollowThe National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the DGP & IG Prisons, Karnataka over allegations of inhuman treatment to 32 prisoners in the Bangalore Central Jail before hastily shifting them to other jails.
NHRC's complaint notice stated that the prisoners were beaten black and blue and shifted overnight in the injured condition to various other prisons at Mysuru, Bellary, Belagavi and Davanagere. According to the complaint, dated July 17, 2107, by BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje, the family members of these prisoners are not allowed to meet them.
The Commission has issued notices to the DGP and IG Prisons, Karnataka to submit a detailed report on the allegations, along with current location and state of health of the injured prisoners of the Bangalore jail, within four weeks.
The Commission has observed that the allegations regarding physical torture of the prisoners and their overnight transfer to other jails, in an injured condition, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of their Right to Life and Dignity. It need not be restated that a prisoner is not a slave of the State and is not denude of all his fundamental rights, while in judicial custody, the NHRC notice said.
Allegedly, the prisoners were given this inhuman treatment due to their initiative to stage a protest and dharna inside the jail premises as they were not allowed to speak to the then DIG of Prisons D Roopa, during her visit to the jail.
However, Roopa had recently, brought out certain grave irregularities, going on inside the Bangalore Central Jail including, providing a special and sophisticated kitchen to one of the prisoners, Sasikala and VIP treatment to another prisoner, Abdul Karim Lala Telgi.
Allegedly, the 32 prisoners were shifted hastily to avoid any disclosure to the enquiry officer, who was expected to visit the Parappana Agrahara jail on Monday, July 17, 2017. The alleged comment of Superintendent of Bangalore Jail has also been described as specious that as per jail manual, dharna is not allowed. Hence, the prisoners have been punished by shifting to other jails.
