Allegations of major security lapses and preferential treatment at Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central jail have surfaced after videos showed notorious inmates, including an ISIS recruiter and a serial rapist and killer, using mobile phones and watching television.
In a video, Zuhaib Hameed Shakeel Manna, an alleged ISIS recruiter, was seen using a phone inside the prison.
Zuhaib Manna can be seen scrolling on his phone, with either a TV or a radio blaring in the background. He is seen talking to someone and enjoying his tea, shows the video.
According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Zuhaib Manna, along with other conspirators, raised funds, radicalised Mulsim youth through Quran Circle Group and recruited them and illegally sent them to Syria via Turkey to join ISIS.
“Zuhaib Manna had used his contacts to motivate and radicalise many impressionable Muslim youth by showing them videos depicting atrocities against Muslims in Syria,” said the NIA.
In another clip, Umesh Reddy, who is accused in over 18 cases of rape and murder, is seen using two Android phones and one keypad mobile inside the jail – which the jail staff allegedly is aware of. A TV set can be seen in his barracks.
Reddy’s death sentence was commuted by the Supreme Court to 30 years of imprisonment without remission in 2022. He was initially sentenced to death but later sought clemency, claiming to be mentally ill. Medical examinations, however, had confirmed he was mentally sound.
Pictures of Tarun Raju, arrested in connection with the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case, also surfaced, in which he can be seen using a phone and cooking inside the jail.
Tarun was arrested while trying to flee to Geneva. He was identified as the mastermind of a gold smuggling network that allegedly supplied gold in Dubai to Ranya Rao – the daughter of a senior IPS officer.
Authorities are expected to probe the alleged misuse of mobile phones and facilities inside the prison.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured to investigate the incidents and initiate necessary action.