JOIN USThe department of prisons will soon lodge high-profile prisoners like those from the underworld inside cells equipped with CCTV cameras to monitor their movements.
The move is aimed at preventing such elements from indulging in illegal activities inside the prisons, with help from the lower staff in the prison, said sources in the department.
As a first step, underworld don Chhota Rajan’s close aide Bachcha Khan, notorious for illegal activities inside the prison with help from the jail staff, has been kept inside the high security cell number 19 in the Mysore jail. Two CCTV cameras have been fitted inside the cell, with four men guarding it. The top brass of the prison are getting reports every day about his movements, sources said.
Khan is well known in the underworld for the supply of arms. He allegedly murdered builder Subbaraju in 2001. He was arrested a few years later in connection with murder and was sent to the Central Prisons, Parappana Agrahara.
He allegedly bribed the staff there and enjoyed all comforts. Khan continued extorting money from builders, businessmen and realtors, by making calls from inside the jail. He followed the orders of Rajan and got them executed in Mumbai and Bangalore, again by making phone calls from the jail, sources said.
He decided to expand Rajan’s network in Bangalore and developed close links with notorious rowdies here. He took supari from them and executed murders of their rivals. He would hatch conspiracies in the jail and get them executed. He got acquainted with notorious rowdy Bettanagere Shankara of Nelamangala. He had taken supari from Shankara to murder the latter's bete noire Bettanagere Seena and had made efforts in this regard, the sources said.
He was shifted to the Gulbarga prison, in a bid to put an end to his activities. But, Khan continued receiving Rajan’s orders and getting them executed. Later, he was shifted to Hindalaga jail in Belgaum.
He reportedly called up Mumbai-based builder Rajaram on a cellphone from inside the jail and extorted money from him on June 17. ADGP (Prisons) K V Gagandeep suspended a few subordinate staff at the Hindalaga jail after the incident came to light. He directed the jail authorities to shift Khan to the Mysore prison.
Several cases have been registered against him in Bangalore, Dharwad and Mumbai. Banaswadi police recently arrested a few of his associates in connection with the supply of pistols.