Home Minister Araga Jnanendra warns strict action against illegal activities in prisons
Bengaluru, Jul 12: Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Tuesday warned action against illegal activities taking place inside the Bengaluru Central Jail saying that those involved in such activities will face consequences.
Jnanendra's warning came after the accused in right-wing activist Harsha's murder case in Shivamogga made a video call to their relatives from inside the prison recently. The video went viral showing serious lapses inside the prison.
"We will not tolerate any illegal activities inside the prison. We will take stringent action against those involved in it," Jnanendra was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office.
Following the incident, raids were carried out inside the Central Jail at Parappana Agrahara leading to the seizure of phones, sharp-edged weapons and narcotics.
According to a statement issued by his office, seven people have been booked under various charges in the past one week and four people have also been arrested including two police personnel. Those held were in possession of a mobile phone, cannabis and psychotropic substance.
The two personnel who were arrested had allegedly let go a new inmate who had hid a mobile phone inside the bandage in his leg, the statement read.
The officials apprised Jnanendra about the security mechanism, problems faced by the prisoners and medical facilities available inside the jail.
Speaking to reporters, the Home Minister said an investigation is on to find out how the killers of Harsha got the phone. In this connection, one person has been arrested.
The Home Minister said a decision was taken to install a mobile jammer inside the jail, so that people cannot use smartphones compatible for 5G network.
Investigation is on into an incident of a football filled with cannabis thrown inside the prison, he said.
Jnanendra said it was brought to his notice that the relatives of the prisoners are being extorted, for which stringent action will be taken.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
