Liquor, meat, beedis, mobile phones ‘available at price’ in Mysuru Central Prison: Report
Mysuru: Even as viral videos from Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Prison allegedly exposed inmates freely using mobile phones and enjoying VIP treatment, equally startling revelations have now emerged from the Mysuru Central Prison — located in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home district.
Mysuru’s high-security prison has allegedly turned into a comfort zone for select inmates, offering everything from liquor, meat, cigarettes and beedis to mobile phones — all available at a price, The New Indian Express reported on Tuesday.
Far from functioning as a correctional centre, the facility is said to operate like a recreational hub, where every banned item reportedly has a fixed rate and official protection.
According to Pavan Siddaramu, a member of the Jail Visiting Board, documents, videos and testimonies gathered from inside the prison revealed that every item within the prison comes with a fixed rate chart. “While market prices of vegetables for essentials outside fluctuate, inside the jail nothing comes below Rs 150 a kg. Even liquor bottles and non-vegetarian food are ordered every week for those who can afford it,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
He alleged the involvement of a canteen operator and some personnel from the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF), claiming they were directly involved in smuggling banned items into the premises.
“This is in blatant violation of the Prison Manual right under the nose of the chief superintendent of the prison. While Mysuru city police conduct “surprise visits” and file “nil” reports, the reality is very different,” he charged.
He further alleged that proper inspections could lead to the seizure of hundreds of SIM cards and mobile phones during each raid, adding that only the city police commissioner must answer how many such raids are conducted every year.
He also pointed out that the current chief superintendent of Mysuru Central Prison was previously posted at Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Jail, which is now at the centre of a nationwide controversy over videos showing inmates using phones and partying behind bars.
“This transfer pattern shows how the same officials continue to control and replicate the same corrupt system across different prisons. The very idea of correctional facilities is being destroyed, and instead, we are creating a parallel mafia network within jails,” Siddaramu alleged.
The revelations come days after videos showing preferential treatment to inmates at Bengaluru Central Prison in Parappana Agrahara went viral. Following a high-level meeting with senior prison and police officials, Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara on Monday suspended a Superintendent and an Assistant Superintendent, and transferred the Chief Superintendent.
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DSP’s red hair earns criticism, Odisha Police asks him to maintain decorum
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Odisha Police has found itself in a spot after some of its personnel, including senior officers, were criticised on social media for sporting coloured and unconventional hairstyles.
The latest incident was reported from Jagatsinghpur district, where a DSP-rank officer was trolled online for his red-coloured hair, putting the police administration in an awkward position, a senior officer said.
The officer, identified as Rashmi Ranjan Das, saw his hairstyle go viral on social media, drawing criticism from several quarters.
Some users termed the look "unprofessional", while others questioned whether such an appearance befitted a uniformed officer, alleging it undermined the authority and seriousness associated with the khaki.
"After finding the DSP being trolled on social media, I have instructed the Jagatsinghpur SP to tell the officer to maintain decorum and keep his hairstyle decent, befitting a man in uniform," Inspector General of Police (Central Range) Satyajit Naik told PTI.
Naik, however, said the police department has not yet issued any circular or order in this regard.
"We have told the officer to maintain decency. Everything cannot go by written orders. From constables to senior officers, everyone in the police service should respect the uniform and give utmost priority to decency," he said.
Another senior police officer said women police personnel across the country, including Odisha, are also seen colouring their hair in shades such as coffee, chocolate, ash, auburn, caramel and golden.
"One cannot issue an order to keep hair black always. There are people who have natural brown hair. This apart, greying is also a natural phenomenon. What can be done in these cases? Therefore, no order can be issued with regard to hair colour," the officer said, adding that it depends on individual police officers.
A woman police officer in the city, who has coloured her hair ash, said no law or rule prohibits such choices.
"We are in the police and perform our duties responsibly. People should not comment on a person’s hairstyle. We welcome criticism if we commit mistakes, but colouring hair is not a crime," she said.
A retired IPS officer said that while the police manual does not explicitly prescribe hairstyles, personnel are expected to maintain the image of a security force.
"Creating a controversy over a non-issue serves no purpose," another serving officer remarked.
