A major security breach at the high-security Hindalaga Central Jail in Belagavi has come to light after a masked individual was caught on camera throwing packets suspected to contain mobile phones and narcotics into the prison compound. The incident, captured by CCTV in the early hours of December 29, has triggered a police investigation and raised alarming questions about the facility's perimeter security.
The Midnight Intrusion
According to prison officials, the unidentified miscreant approached the jail's outer wall around 3 am. The individual, whose face was concealed, hurled cloth-wrapped packets over the wall into the prison premises before swiftly fleeing the scene. A formal complaint regarding the incident was subsequently lodged by the jail's assistant superintendent at the Belagavi Rural police station.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that two packets were thrown into the jail. Preliminary information suggests one packet contained five mobile phones and four SIM cards, while the other was suspected to hold narcotic substances. During a subsequent check, a mobile phone was recovered from Barrack No. 2 in Circle No. 2 by the chief inspector on duty. However, jail authorities have not officially confirmed the exact nature or quantity of the recovered items.
Official Response and Investigation
The CCTV footage of the brazen act quickly went viral on social media, prompting Belagavi City Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase to visit the jail for a review. Addressing the media, Commissioner Borase declined to specify the number of mobile phones or drugs recovered. He also refrained from commenting on the apparent security lapses but clarified that Hindalaga Jail falls under the jurisdiction of the Belagavi Rural police.
"Patrolling is being carried out by the rural police, in addition to security provided by the Industrial Security Force. We will extend whatever security support is possible from our side," Borase stated. Based on the complaint and the video evidence, the Belagavi Rural police have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those involved.
A Pattern of Security Challenges
This latest incident underscores persistent security issues at the facility. It occurred just days after a surprise raid on December 25, during which police confiscated several mobile phones from inside the same jail. The back-to-back events highlight the ongoing challenge of preventing contraband from entering the prison.
In a related development, TP Shesha, the Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (North Division), responded to the viral video by stating that the CCTV footage was approximately a month old and not from a recent event. He confirmed that a case had already been registered at the Belagavi Rural police station and that an investigation is currently in progress.
The repeated security breaches at Hindalaga Central Jail have intensified scrutiny on the effectiveness of surveillance and patrol measures along its outer perimeter, demanding urgent corrective action from the authorities.
