Following viral videos showing inmates at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail using mobile phones, watching television, and appearing to receive preferential treatment, the jail’s Chief Superintendent has been transferred, and two other officials have been suspended, Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara confirmed on Monday.
The videos, widely circulated on social media, featured inmates including an alleged ISIS recruiter, Zuhaib Hameed Shakeel Manna, and a convicted serial rapist-murderer, engaging in activities that violated standard prison protocols. In one clip, Manna, who is a Bengaluru resident and a former computer application specialist, was seen sipping tea and scrolling through a phone while interacting with the person recording.
Authorities launched an official investigation on Saturday after the videos surfaced. Dr. Parameshwara responded firmly, stating, “I will not tolerate preferential treatment of inmates under any circumstances.”
Parappana Agrahara Central Jail, which houses several high-profile criminals, came under the spotlight due to these incidents, raising concerns about security lapses and prison management practices. The NIA had previously booked Manna for his alleged role in raising funds for the banned terrorist organization ISIS and recruiting youth to join the group in Syria.
This move underscores the state government’s commitment to strict monitoring of prison facilities and ensuring that no inmate receives privileges that compromise safety or fairness within correctional institutions.
