Two Undertrials Attack Jail Officer in Bengaluru Prison After Review Panel Warns of Systemic Issues
Two undertrial prisoners assaulted an assistant jailer at Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on Friday. This violent incident occurred just days after a high-level review committee submitted a report warning of systemic failures in Karnataka's central prisons.
Details of the Assault Incident
The Bengaluru police registered a criminal case against the two accused prisoners. They have been identified as Anand, aged 33, and Abdul Ghani, aged 41. The injured official is Murthy S, who was posted at the Tower 2 Gate of the prison.
According to the First Information Report, the incident happened between 3 pm and 3:30 pm on January 7. Murthy was performing his routine duties at the gate when a group of inmates attempted to enter the area without proper authorization.
The complaint states that Murthy asked the inmates to seek permission from the jailer before entering. This request led to an argument. The inmates then prevented him from carrying out his duties and verbally abused him in front of other inmates and prison staff.
The situation escalated quickly. Anand, identified as undertrial prisoner number 1489, allegedly kicked Murthy while he was seated on a chair. Both Anand and Ghani, who is undertrial prisoner number 18589, assaulted the officer physically.
Karna B Kshatri, the Superintendent in charge of Prisons, filed the complaint that led to the FIR. The police acted promptly to register the case against the two undertrials.
Systemic Issues Flagged by Review Committee
This assault comes against a troubling backdrop. Last week, a high-level committee headed by R Hitendra, Additional Director General of Police for Law and Order, submitted a report to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara.
The report delivered a stark warning. It stated that Parappana Agrahara jail is operating on the brink of systemic failure. The committee submitted this report on January 14, just days before the assault occurred.
According to the review findings, the prison currently houses 4,834 inmates. However, it has only 571 staff members, leaving 388 posts vacant. This creates a critical staff shortage that affects daily operations and security.
The prisoner-staff ratio stands at 1:9, which is well above the 1:6 ratio prescribed by the Model Prison Manual. When accounting for three shifts, the ratio becomes even more alarming at 1:27 per shift. This means one officer is responsible for nearly 30 inmates at any given time.
The report also highlighted concerning statistics about illegal activities within the prison. Between January 2021 and November 15, 2025, authorities registered 154 FIRs in Bengaluru concerning illegal activities in the central prison. As of November 15, 2025, all 154 cases remain pending at the police station level.
Implications and Context
This assault incident underscores the systemic issues identified by the review committee. The attack on a prison officer while on duty raises serious questions about safety and security within the facility.
The timing is particularly significant. The assault occurred shortly after the committee submitted its warning about the prison's precarious state. This suggests that the identified problems may be contributing to such security breaches.
Prison authorities face mounting challenges with overcrowding and understaffing. These conditions create an environment where tensions can escalate quickly, as demonstrated by this recent violent episode.
The pending cases mentioned in the report indicate that illegal activities within the prison have been ongoing. The assault on an officer adds to this pattern of incidents that require urgent attention from authorities.
Home Minister G Parameshwara now has both the committee's report and this fresh incident to consider. The assault provides a concrete example of the risks highlighted in the systemic review.
Prison reform advocates will likely point to this incident as evidence supporting the committee's recommendations. The safety of both prison staff and inmates depends on addressing these systemic issues promptly.
