The state government’s move to deploy private security guards in seven central prisons, including Bangalore central prison in Parappana Agrahara, has proved a dud.
The prisons department had awarded the tender to provide outer security for Bangalore central jail and other district jails to a private security company, Terrier Security Services Limited, from August 15.
The department had asked the company to provide 400 staff, but the company deployed just 278 staff, violating the conditions stipulated in the tender. The men who have been deployed are also aged, unfit and illiterate. “So we have cancelled the tender,” announced minister for prisons, V Umesh Katti.
“For the Bangalore central prison, we directed the company to deploy 110 security staff, but it deployed only 44 staff. The company violated tender conditions. So, we are considering issuing a fresh tender. If not, we will drop the idea of private security and continue to deploy home guards,” he added.
As per earlier privatisation plans, private security guards were to be deployed at the Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum, Bellary, Tumkur, Dharwad and Mangalore central prisons from August 15. However, the private agency did not take complete charge of these prisons, forcing the government to cancel the contract.
To a question on the release of 594 convicts, Katti said the governor’s office has returned the proposal to the government seeking more details about the inmates meant to be let free. Governor Bhardwaj has sought more information than his predecessor.
“I have directed the officials to submit the details to the governor within three weeks. If he rejects the proposal again, we will directly approach the president, Prathiba Patil,” Umesh Katti added.