Old prison to be high security cell

Authorities to shift warring inmates, suspected Maoists, terrorists there

Mangalore District Prison Superintendent P.S. Ramesh says the old prison, which has heritage value, will be modified and 20 cells will be created at a cost of Rs.1 crore. File Photo

Fights among a few groups of inmates have been a cause of concern for the Mangalore District Prison authorities. Housing the fighting inmates in separate cells has not prevented the clashes. Sending a few of them to Bellary and Shimoga Central Prisons has not helped the cause.

Now, the prison authorities are mulling converting the old prison into a high security cell and moving the trouble makers to it.

“Apart from housing problematic inmates, we can house those who need more security, including those arrested for alleged Maoist and terrorist acts,” said Mangalore District Prison Superintendent P.S. Ramesh.

The old prison block remains unused after inmates from there were shifted to the new block on October 31, 2012.

Mr. Ramesh said it was proposed to make some alterations to the old block, which has heritage value, and create around 20 cells at cost of Rs. 1 crore.

These high security cells would be similar to those created in Bangalore Central Prison. Senior officials have agreed to the proposal, which would be placed before the State government, he said.

New Central Prison

The Prison Department has also proposed to construct a Central Prison on about 100 acres of land available in Bantwal. The need of having a Central Prison here would help reduce the burden on Mysore and Belgaum Central Prisons, which are overcrowded. “Around 200 convicted persons belonging to coastal areas are in these two prisons,” Mr. Ramesh said.

Under the programme to improve prison infrastructure, the Prison Department has proposed to construct a Central Prison in Bantwal. This Central Prison would house convicted persons from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Chickmagalur. The State government was yet to approve the proposal and allocate funds, Mr. Ramesh said.

Closed-circuit television cameras would soon monitor the District Prison, which has 280 inmates. “I can watch the activities of inmates in different barracks from my cabin,” Mr. Ramesh said. Razor-wire fencing would be added to the perimeter of the new prison.