In a significant visit aimed at bolstering prison security, Director General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Services) Alok Kumar conducted a detailed inspection of the District Prison in Mangaluru on Tuesday. The top police official underscored that effective prison management is a cornerstone of broader law and order, potentially impacting nearly 60% of related issues.
Overcrowding and Security Challenges
The Mangaluru facility is currently housing 334 inmates, a staggering figure that represents 170% of its actual capacity. This severe overcrowding, as highlighted by the DGP, naturally leads to operational challenges. "Maintaining strict control within prisons is crucial, especially as inmates often come out on bail," Alok Kumar stated, emphasizing the ripple effect of internal prison discipline on external crime.
He acknowledged the prison's sensitive nature and confirmed that the highest priority is being given to security. To this end, prisoners identified for creating disturbances have been shifted to other jails. Frequent searches, conducted with the help of City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy and the jail staff, have yielded results, including the discovery of mobile phones as recently as Monday under Jail Superintendent Sharanabasappa.
Combating Contraband and Tech Upgrades
The DGP addressed the persistent issue of prohibited items entering the prison. Authorities have learned about incidents where ganja packets are thrown from outside the prison walls. "We have spoken to our KSISF counterpart and told them to exercise stricter vigilance on this," he informed reporters.
On the technological front, a promising development is on the horizon. AI-based surveillance systems are being tested on a pilot basis at Parappana Agrahara and Mysuru prisons. A decision on extending these trials to the Mangaluru prison will be taken soon, depending on the effectiveness of the initial pilots. Regarding mobile phone jammers, a long-discussed topic, the DGP mentioned that while periodic recalibration is done, certain technical issues persist and are being addressed with the concerned authorities.
Calls for Expedited Relocation and Future Steps
Responding to queries about the long-pending relocation of the prison, Alok Kumar confirmed that construction work is in progress. He plans to meet the Home Minister shortly to urge for expediting the project and also called on elected representatives to draw the government's attention to this critical infrastructure issue.
The visit, part of routine inspections across state prisons, concluded with the DGP being accorded a guard of honour. Among the officials present were Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH and SP Arun K. The inspection spotlights the ongoing efforts to modernize prison administration and tackle the twin challenges of capacity and security in Karnataka's correctional facilities.
