NHRC notice to prisons chief over 'inhuman' treatment to 32 inmates

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the Director General of Police and Inspector General of Prisons of Karnataka to submit a report within four weeks over allegations of severe beating and inhuman treatment to 32 inmates of Bengaluru Central Prisons at Parappana Agrahara.

The NHRC had received a complaint from Lok Sabha member Shobha Karandlaje alleging that the prisoners were beaten black and blue and shifted overnight in the injured condition to various other jails in Mysuru, Ballari, Belagavi and Davangere.

The Commission has observed that the allegations regarding physical torture of the prisoners and their overnight transfer to other jails, in injured condition, if true, raise serious issue of violation of their Right to Life and Dignity. “It need not be restated that a prisoner is not a slave of the state and is not denuded of all his fundamental rights, while in judicial custody,” the NHRC said in a press release.

The NHRC also said that the prisoners were allegedly inhumanly treated due to their initiative to stage a protest dharna inside the jail premises as they were not allowed to speak to D Roopa, DIG (Prisons) who had visited the jail.

She has recently brought out certain grave irregularities going on inside the Bengaluru Central Jail including, providing special and sophisticated kitchen to one of the prisoners, AIADMK leader Sasikala and VIP treatment to another prisoner, Abdul Karim Telgi, the commission stated.