BENGALURU: It was an unusual morning at Central Prison on Saturday. Instead of their usual wake-up time of 6am, convicts and undertrial prisoners were asked to come out of their barracks one hour early. Soon, 100 officials from Central Crime Branch led by joint commissioner of police (crime) Sandeep Patil entered the barracks to carry out a surprise check.
Ten police dogs, which were trained to track narcotics and explosives, accompanied them. Some of them — Surya, Bhoomi, Drona, Mailu, Krish and Rana — spotted ganja hidden behind the shelves, bedrolls and clothes.
According to officials, three recent murder cases reported in the city led to the surprise check. “Former corporator Rekha Khadiresh, financier N Madan and history-sheeter Kareem Ali were killed in a planned manner. We suspect the murders were plotted inside the prison,” an officer said. Cops seized 26 knives, two mobile phones, four SIM cards, three pen drives and memory cards, 200 grams of ganja, seven smoking pipes and Rs 7,700. Most of the knives were made by inmates using steel tumblers and plates. “They think they can protect themselves with the tools when attacked by rivals,” an official said.
Another officer said the pen drives had names and contact numbers along with details of bank accounts. “Some of the inmates are part of the land mafia. Sitting inside prison, they call land owners and threaten them,” an officer said.
“It is an old habit of seasoned criminals to plan illegal activities inside prison. When such conspiracies are hatched, they get themselves arrested in an older case and opt to stay behind bars,” he said.
