Violent Riot Erupts at Mangaluru District Prison: Inmates Attack Officials, Damage Property
A violent and chaotic incident was reported recently at the District Prison in Mangaluru, where undertrial inmates allegedly created significant unrest, threatened prison officials, attempted physical assault, and caused substantial damage to government property. The disturbance has raised serious concerns about security protocols and inmate management within the facility.
Aggressive Confrontation and Threats
The complainant, Sharanabasappa, who serves as the superintendent of the District Prison in Mangaluru, was on duty when the incident unfolded. Undertrial prisoner Mohammad Iqbal entered his office and began shouting aggressively, demanding that newly admitted prisoners be lodged in his cell according to his specific instructions. Iqbal allegedly used abusive language and issued direct threats to the superintendent, declaring that Sharanabasappa was his "target" and would be dealt with severely.
Despite repeated attempts by the complainant and other prison staff to calm him down, Iqbal continued his aggressive shouting and made attempts to physically assault the superintendent, escalating the tension within the prison premises.
Escalation with Additional Inmates and Property Damage
Simultaneously, another undertrial prisoner, Mohammad Afreed, joined Iqbal in the confrontation. Together, they verbally abused the complainant and prison staff, and attempted to attack them using a plastic chair that was available on the prison grounds. This coordinated effort intensified the violence and created a hazardous environment for the officials present.
Subsequently, both accused individuals allegedly damaged government property, including an RO water filter machine and associated piping, resulting in an estimated financial loss of Rs 12,000. The destruction of essential infrastructure further compounded the chaos and highlighted the severity of the riot.
Instigation and Further Violence from Cell Block
Meanwhile, from Cell No. 3 of the 'A' Block, undertrial prisoner Shehraj, also known as Shahrukh, allegedly set fire to bedding materials inside his cell. In a calculated move to incite further violence, he broke carrom boards and passed the broken pieces to the other accused inmates, actively instigating them to assault the complainant and prison staff.
The accused persons, acting together in a coordinated manner, attempted to attack prison officials and obstructed them from performing their official duties, creating a full-blown riot scenario that required immediate intervention.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
Following the violent outbreak, a formal case was registered at the Barke police station to address the multiple offenses committed during the incident. The authorities are now investigating the roles of each inmate involved, with a focus on the instigation, assault attempts, and property damage that occurred.
This incident underscores critical issues in prison security and inmate behavior management, prompting calls for enhanced measures to prevent such violent outbreaks in the future. The Mangaluru District Prison administration is expected to review its protocols in light of this alarming event.
