Some women prisoners forced into sex with male inmates at the Bengaluru Central Prison

By Umesh Yadav
​BENGALURU: The state government has not transferred a single official at the Bengaluru Central Prison even after an inquiry confirmed that some women prisoners were forced into sex with male inmates.

It may be recalled that in October 2014, two anonymous letters in the prison's grievance box complained of jail officials making money by forcing some women prisoners into sex with male inmates.

The confidential report of the State Human Rights Commission, which conducted a preliminary inquiry soon after, clearly held three members of the prison staff responsible for forcing three female prisoners into sex.

The commission's acting chairperson Meera Saksena submitted a fourpage report to chief secretary Kaushik Mukherjee on November 20 mentioning the three names, and recommending their immediate transfer to nonexecutive posts. But the three officials, inquiries by ET revealed, continue working in the same posts at the prison, undermining the Human Rights Commission's efforts and its report.

When asked about the inaction, Meera Saksena said, “I am shocked because I expected the government to act immediately on my report.“ She added that the commission did not make its findings public fearing for the safety of the inmates.

According to the report, reviewed by this writer, the commission's team got information from a prison inmate that three corrupt female guards allegedly sent three women prisoners to certain male prisoners in return for money.(ET does not wish to publish the names of female guards in view of the sensitivity of the case).

Home minister KJ George, when contacted, said he was not in receipt of the Human Rights Commission's letter, and that a committee led by the women & child welfare commissioner was conducting the probe. The said director, however, has gone on “long leave“, and the government has not made any alternative arrangements to take the probe forward.

KV Gagandeep, principal secretary to theHome Department, said he was not even aware of such a report from the Human Rights Commission.

The officer said that he was no longer in charge of the prison, but told that the prison wing also comes under him.He said: “Contact ADGP prisons Kamal Panth.“

Kamal Panth told ET that he had “not received any letter from anybody“ and there were transfers. Once he receives information about the issue, he will take appropriate action, he said.