On one hand in two years, 21 prisons have been closed in the state. On the other, the prisons department in Karnataka is contemplating building two new prisons in Bengaluru and Mangaluru.
Bengaluru: A lack of inmates has prompted the district administration to close at least 21 prisons in various taluks of Karnataka in the last two years. However, reports claim that the situation in cities is different with the increase in crime rate.
According to a recent report, in Telangana, under the Correctional Services Department's efforts, 17 prisons pulled the shutters. Likewise, it looks like the social reform programmes in Karnataka have also had an effect on those involved in illegal activities at least in the rural areas in the state.
The State Prison Department has appointed officers from these taluk prisons to district prisons. However, the department is contemplating building new prisons in cities like Bengaluru and Mangaluru, where the number of inmates in the jail has exceeded the prisons' capacity.
List of prisons closed in Karnataka:
|
Sl No |
District |
Taluk prison centres |
|
1 |
Tumakuru |
Tiptur |
|
2 |
Chamarajanagar |
Kollegal |
|
3 |
Hassan |
Arasikere, Sakaleshpur |
|
4 |
Kodagu |
Virajpet |
|
5 |
Chikkamagalur |
Kadur, Tarikere, NR Pura |
|
6 |
Uttara Kannada |
Yellapur, Sirsi |
|
7 |
Shivamogga |
Sagar |
|
8 |
Belagavi |
Bylahongala, Athani, Saundatti, Chikkodi |
|
9 |
Bagalakot |
Badami |
|
10 |
Kalaburagi |
Aland, Chittapur |
|
11 |
Raichur |
Devadurga |
|
12 |
Koppal |
Gangavathi |
|
13 |
Ballari |
Harapanahalli |
According to a report by Kannada Prabha, the state has a total of eight central prisons, 1 women's prison, 21 district prisons, 28 taluk prisons, and 44 taluk sub-jails. These prisons have a capacity of holiding 13,688 prisoners. But currently, there are 14,974 prisoners including under trials, lodged in various jails in Karnataka.
Among them, Parappana Agrahara central prison in Bengaluru has the highest number of prisoners - 5187.
A report by Girish Madenahalli states that few representatives of people in the taluks were against closing of the prisons and had argued that they wanted the prison to function in their constituency. But prison officers decided to close it considering the practical difficulties of maintainence.
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