JOIN US They tried to fool the Bidar Taluk Magistrate during an identification parade and have landed behind the bars, which is unfamiliar to them as they had all along been on the other side of the fence.
In-charge District Jail Superintendent Seerajuddin Sheikh Ali (59), Chief Warden Shivlingappa Patil (56) and Supervisor Renukacharya Swamy (46) were arrested on late Friday evening for allegedly trying to protect three accused during the identification parade by changing their appearances.
Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, Superintendent of Police Satish Kumar said the three accused -- Aleppu Bakodi (30), Aleppu Kothi (25) and Aleppu Budhodi (40) from Korpatpalli village in the state--were arrested by the Adilabad police of Andhra Pradesh, in a joint operation involving the district police.
The three, who were wanted in several crimes committed in the district, were brought here on September 16 and lodged in the district jail.
On Friday an identification parade was organised at the district jail premises in connection with a road robbery case in the presence of Taluk Magistrate Sharnappa Satyampete, the complainants and eye witnesses.
However, during the identification parade the three jail officials tried to mislead the Taluk Magistrate and eye witnesses by replacing one among the three accused by taking advantage of the common first name 'Aleppu'. They had also done some make up in the appearances of the other accused by removing their moustache and shaving their head clean, in an attempt to confuse the eye witnesses.
When this was brought to the notice of the authorities, a police team visited the district jail and interrogated the accused and the officials. During the interrogation, the officials confessed to their involvement with the accused.
Inmates fast
Following the arrests of the three senior jail officials, inmates observed a fast.
Commenting about the snap protest, SP Satish Kumar remarked: "The inmates probably had a soft corner for the three officials and this case vindicates the reasons for the same."