Fresh Clash Erupts in Mangaluru Prison; Property Damaged, Inmates Injured
Inmates from rival barracks vandalise CCTV, mobile jammer in second violent incident within two days
A clash broke out inside the Mangaluru District Prison on Tuesday afternoon when undertrial inmates from one barrack allegedly attacked fellow prisoners engaged in cooking duties, resulting in chaos and damage to government property worth nearly Rs 1 lakh.
According to officials, the incident occurred around 2:15 pm when inmates from A Barrack entered the kitchen area and assaulted undertrial prisoners who were preparing food. The attack reportedly sparked unrest in B Barrack, where inmates began shouting and attempted to force open the iron gate of their block.
In the process, inmates of B Barrack vandalised ten CCTV cameras and damaged the connecting wires. They also damaged the antenna of a mobile jammer installed in the block, prison authorities said.
The injured inmates sustained minor injuries and were treated at Government Wenlock Hospital.
Superintendent of Mangaluru District Prison, B. Suresh, who was present on the premises during the incident, rushed to the kitchen after being alerted by staff and later assessed the situation along with senior officials.
Following a complaint, Barke police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 and the Karnataka Prison Discipline and Lawful Procedures (KPDLP) Act. An investigation is underway.
Officials estimated the cost of the damaged government property to be around Rs 1,00,000. Notably, a similar clash had occurred on Monday between undertrial prisoners at the same prison, resulting in property damage and injury to one inmate.