An NGO had alerted child rights commission that two minors had spent several months in central prison.
Members of Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) made a surprise visit to the central prison and found that 22 minors have been lodged there for several months.
Acting on a complaint, a team headed by commission chairman Vasudeva Sharma visited the jail premises and reviewed case files of all the 22 inmates. During the review, the team found the records of their dental examination, which suggest that all 22 of them are below 18 years of age.
“The complaints received by KSCPCR are grave in nature. Nine juveniles at the observation home in Madiwala revealed that they had spent a few weeks to more than 12 months in judicial custody without proper hearings despite of repeated efforts made by their families to establish their minor status. SICHREM, a human rights organisation, also filed a complaint with the KSCPCR, alleging that two inmates released on bail from the central prison had spent several months in judicial custody despite being minor,” a press release from the child rights commission said.
The team also gathered information about the minor inmates to conduct a detailed inquiry.
The young inmates, including the 22 minor boys, were not put to hard labour and were able to continue education. The prison authorities expressed sensitivity to the needs and problems of the young detainees and had initiated measures to ascertain their true age.
The observation home for the boys was shifted from Parappana Agrahara central prison to Madiwala recently.
Caught gambling
The prison authorities in a surprise visit caught four undertrials and 24 convicts gambling inside the jail premises on Friday.
The inmates were also using marijuana.
Based on the directions of the additional director general of prison, Gagandeep, a detailed probe was conducted and the authorities identified 60 inmates involved in nefarious activities.
All the 60 inmates have been transferred to different jails across the state.
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