Belagavi: Karnataka Legislative Council Member Shri Kishor Kumar Puttur on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the state government, alleging that prisons in Karnataka have ceased to function as correctional institutions and have instead become “luxury safe havens for terrorists and hardened criminals.”
Serious allegations raised in Legislative Council
Speaking to the media at Suvarna Soudha, Belagavi, after raising a starred question to the Home Minister during the ongoing Legislative Council session, Kishor Kumar Puttur said the situation inside state prisons posed a grave threat to public safety and national security. He accused the Home Department of administrative failure and warned that continued inaction could have dangerous consequences.
According to the MLC, terrorists and habitual offenders lodged in Karnataka prisons are allegedly enjoying unrestricted access to mobile phones, making WhatsApp video calls, watching obscene content, and maintaining uninterrupted communication with external networks.
“Facilities that are not available to ordinary law-abiding citizens are being enjoyed by anti-national elements inside prisons. From behind prison walls, they are continuing to plan criminal and terror activities. This is a matter of national shame,” he said.
‘Minister must act firmly, not symbolically’
Reacting to Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara’s response, Kishor Kumar Puttur said that suspending or transferring a few officials would not address the depth of the problem. He cautioned that unless the Home Minister asserts strong control, the prison system would remain compromised.
“The system has slipped out of control. Mere suspensions will not help. Unless the minister adopts a firm approach, officials will continue to remain complacent,” he stated.
Data points to rising illegal activities
Citing official government data, the MLC revealed that 83 cases involving banned and illegal items were registered inside prisons during 2024. In 2025 alone, 70 FIRs have already been filed till December 15, indicating that the problem is escalating rather than reducing.
He further pointed out that prisons in Bengaluru, Shivamogga, and Kalaburagi have emerged as major centres of illegal activity. Reports of illicit liquor manufacturing inside prison premises have also surfaced, despite the presence of CCTV surveillance and mobile jammers.
“This cannot happen without the support of corrupt officials. If this situation continues, prisons will turn into control rooms for organised crime. The government must immediately dismantle this parallel administration operating inside jails,” he demanded.
Call for urgent reforms
Kishor Kumar Puttur urged the state government to initiate an immediate crackdown, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and restore the fundamental purpose of prisons as reformative institutions. He warned that continued silence and delay could severely undermine public trust and internal security.