Seven Bengaluru Prison Officials Suspended After Inmate’s Birthday Bash

The Prisons Department in Bengaluru has suspended seven officials from the Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara, following a viral video that showed an inmate celebrating his birthday inside the facility. The video, which emerged on social media, has raised significant concerns regarding the prison’s internal security measures.

Among those suspended are a head warder and a warder, while an assistant superintendent, two jailers, and two assistant jailers are currently facing a departmental inquiry for their alleged negligence. The incident has prompted Additional Director General of Police for Prisons, B Dayananda, to order a preliminary inquiry, which is being supervised by K C Divyashree, the Deputy Inspector General of the Southern Range.

The inquiry’s findings were submitted on Wednesday, revealing that the officials on duty failed to prevent the gathering of inmates, which constitutes serious dereliction of duty. As a result, DIG Divyashree has recommended disciplinary action against the seven suspended officers, with further consequences to follow based on the inquiry’s conclusions.

The birthday celebration took place on September 9, 2023, in Barrack Number 6, Cell Number 7. The featured inmate, identified as Srinivasa alias Gubbachhi Seena, is a known rowdy-sheeter facing murder charges. In the video, he is seen adorned with an apple garland and cutting a cake alongside fellow inmates. It has been reported that the inmates managed to obtain apples from the Hopcoms outlet located within the prison premises and used bread from the prison bakery to create the cake.

In response to the incident, the Prisons Department has lodged a complaint with the Parappana Agrahara Police Station to trace the source of the mobile phone used to record the video. This incident has highlighted potential vulnerabilities in the prison’s security protocols, raising awareness about the need for stricter enforcement of regulations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

As the investigation unfolds, the implications of this incident may lead to broader discussions about the management and oversight of correctional facilities in India. The public’s concern regarding safety and security in high-security prisons continues to grow, emphasizing the importance of accountability among prison officials.